(USD) Topdeck | Australia + NZ 2015-16

AUSTRALIA + NZ | 2015-2016

24

FEATURING

THE ULTIMATE DOWN UNDER

Bucket list

AMAZING

ROA D T RIP S FO R 1 8 -30 S O M E T H I N G S

INSIDE

21

EPIC THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT

Prices & itineraries valid until 31 October 2015

AUSTRALIA & NZ

GREAT BARRIER REEF | WHITSUNDAYS | FRASER ISLAND| BYRON BAY | ULURU | KAKADU MILFORD SOUND | QUEENSTOWN | ROTORUA | FOX GLACIER AND MORE

Stories P04.

The down under bucket list Your roadmap to adventure.

P06.

21 epic things you didn’t know about Australia & NZ

#DRE

Only five percent of NZ’s population is human.

P08.

Bush tucker It’s officially a sizzle.

P10.

Go, explore, stay, play It’s your trip, your way.

P12.

Wild side Whale, whale, whale, what do we have here?

P14.

Travel budget Make friends, save money.

P22.

Dropzone Take a leap of faith.

P34.

Shades of blue It’s called the Great Barrier Reef for a reason.

P42.

Outback life Saddle up and experience life on a farm.

P48.

Northern exposure Slip into the Dreamtime.

P54.

Great Ocean Road You call that a road? THIS is a road.

Trips P16. New Zealand

Ancient glaciers? Check. Hobbits? Check.

Explore one of the world’s most famous wish-you-were-here postcards.

HIGHLIGHTS

+ + +

Skydiving, bungy jumping, white-water rafting. Adventure starts here.

All the postcard landscapes from Lord of the Rings.

Get personal with whales, dolphins and seals.

P28. Australia

Endless golden beaches, fringing reefs and lush rainforests. The weather’s perfect, life’s good so just kick back and enjoy the ride.

HIGHLIGHTS

+ + + + +

Snorkel & dive the Great Barrier Reef.

Sail the Whitsundays.

Sleep in swags under the outback sky.

Explore Kakadu National Park.

Learn to surf!

Reference P63.

P64.

P65.

P66.

Terms & conditions Stay & Play How to read our itineraries Maps

EAMBIG WE ARE TOPDECK We do epic down under road trips, Big Game safaris, Eurotrips, pyramid expeditions, surf camps and other awesomeness around the world for travellers between 18-39.

We realise that everyone’s different, which is why all our trips include heaps of free time to play and explore. It’s your trip, your way.

Your trip includes all the must-see, must-do activities and top-notch local fare to recharge those batteries between stops, which means you can spend your money where it matters and we’ll take care of the rest.

You will hit the road on modern coaches, stay where the action is and hang out with other young explorers bent on seeing the world.

And that’s just how we got started. We had a group of mates, some wheels and enough wanderlust to make most mothers worried.

Forty years into it, we’re still discovering new places to see and unforgettable travel experiences to make our passengers’ trips just that little bit more awesome.

That’s us, but this is about you. It’s time to live large, dream bigger and squeeze life for all it’s worth. The rest can wait.

Ready to pack your bags? Let’s talk.

WWW.

READ MORE OF OUR STORY ONLINE

What’s this?

Great Barrier Reef

Sailing the Whitsundays

01

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New Zealand Trip Australia Trip Read More

The world’s biggest aquarium?

Check. Bigger than the Great Wall of

The sand at Whitehaven beach is made of 99% pure silica. The water

China and big enough to be seen from space,

colour changes with the tides, NASA uses

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef got its name for a

the sand for telescopes and it makes perfect

reason. It’s home to 2,900 reefs, 1,500 species

squeaking noises when you walk on it. It’s

of fish, and six of the world’s seven sea turtle

also the most beautiful beach in the world

species. Find Nemo, try scuba diving or just

(ask the internet) and a perfect start for two

count shades of blue. You’re a long way from

days of sailing, snorkelling and kicking back

home, but things could be worse.

in a hammock.

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Fraser Island

Surf culture

03

04

Bring out the big wheels. Explore the world’s largest sand island in a

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Wake up, surf, love life. From the certified organic vibes of Byron Bay

4WD built to survive a zombie apocalypse. Get

to Gold Coast’s Lamborghinis and skimpy

up-close-and-personal with rainforest towering

outfits, Australia packs more surf culture than

40 metres over endless sand dunes, crystal clear

any other place outside Hawaii and Southern

lakes and cheeky dingoes during two nights of

California. Wanna ride? Hit up our surf camp in

man vs. wild with creature comforts.

Crescent Head for perfect breaks and top-notch instruction in sheltered conditions. Gnarly.

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Southern states

The big red

05

06

The spiritual home of hipsters, emus and perfect coffee. Australia’s south is

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First thought: wow, it’s flat.

Second thought: and RED. Third

a perfect blend between urban culture and sci-fi

thought: camels?! Steeped in 40,000 years of

landscapes. Expect the backdrop from Pitch

dreamtime stories, Australia’s outback is a tribute

Black, warm country hospitality and enough

to a way of life long forgotten by many. Sleep in

sunsets to make your Facebook friends secretly

swags under star-lit skies, get face-to-face with

hate you. Trivia: the 12 apostles used to be called

snappy crocs in Kakadu National Park and find

the Sow and Piglets. Thank god they changed it.

out how 200,000 camels ended up here.

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Bay of Islands

Maori experience

07

08

Life’s a beach. If you thought penguins only lived on the South Pole, think

It’s official. Get a proper welcome to the land of the long white cloud (and

again. Whales? Got that. Dolphins? That too. Add

great rugby) with a one-night stay in a traditional

a 90-mile long beach and 144 perfectly shaped

Maori Marae. Prepare for a night of legends,

sub-tropical islands and we’re sure you’ll figure it

dancing and home-cooked food on sacred

out. Also: the third bluest skies in the world and

ground and a chance to learn the haka and poi

enough water activities to justify growing your

dances. Haere mai Aotearoa!

first set of gills.

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Drop zone

Gandalf’s gambit

09

10

I’m so bored. Said no one ever in Queenstown. If there’s a perfectly fine

This is Middle Earth. Hit the hobbit trail through Tongariro National Park

bridge, cliff or airplane, chances are you will find

to Mount Doom then cue enough jaw-dropping

a way to jump off it here. It’s also home to the

scenery to fill over nine hours of feature film.

world’s most epic burger shop, world-class skiing

Don’t miss: the Hobbiton movie set and a

and all-round adrenalin awesomeness.

pilgrimage to the studio that brought the magic

Call mum later.

of New Zealand to the world.

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THE DOWN UNDER BUCKET LIST | 05

21

EPIC THING DIDN’T KNOW AUSTRALIA &

“RIGHT ON. NEW ZEALAND. THAT’S WHERE THEY MADE LORD OF THE RINGS. I SAY WE JUST MOVE THERE, YO.” JESSE PINKMAN (BREAKING BAD)

SIZE MATTERS 01.

Australia’s largest property (Anna Creek Station) is bigger than Belgium.

02.

The world’s longest fence runs for 5,618 kilometres from Queensland to Western Australia and was built to protect sheep from dingoes.

03.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living organism and covers 2,300 kilometres of Australia’s coastline. It’s also home to six of the world’s seven sea turtle species. Win.

04.

No part of New Zealand is more than 128 kilometres from the sea.

Beached as.

05.

Only five percent of New Zealand’s population is human.

The rest is made up of animals and LOTR extras.

GS YOU W ABOUT & NZ

AS YOU DO 06.

THE WILD SIDE

An Australian man tried to sell New Zealand on eBay once. The bids for the world’s best real estate deal reached $3,000 before the ad was removed.

11.

Koalas are the only animals apart from humans with unique fingerprints.

12.

07.

Every kiwi has at least one baby photo of themselves naked on a sheep skin. Don’t ask.

Don’t harass crocodiles. They might harass you back.

13.

08.

While the rest of the world is dreaming of a white Christmas, all Australians know ‘tis is the time to eat prawns on the beach.

The whole cast from Finding Nemo lives on the Great Barrier Reef.

14.

If you visit between May-Oct you can see the annual migration of humpback whales travelling from Antarctica to northern Australia. #Epic.

09.

10.

If the mercury drops below 20C, it’s officially cold. Don’t even think about arguing about this.

Name suggestions for Australia’s capital originally included Sydmelperbrisho, Wheetwoolgold and Federalbus. Righto.

15.

Number of snake species in Australia: 140. New Zealand: 0.

16.

Ratio of sheep to humans in New Zealand: 7 to 1.

MAGIC 17.

New Zealand officially appointed a Lord and Minister of the Rings to cash in on the success of the Lord of the Rings movies.

18.

This was not the first prominent magician the country has seen. A National Wizard was appointed in 1990. #truestory.

19.

It’s also the only country with hobbits printed on their currency.

20.

And everyone in New Zealand knows at least one person who worked on the films.

21.

Remember Xena the Warrior Princess? Yep, she’s kiwi too.

WHY CHOOSE TOPDECK? •

See the world and make friends for life

•

We stay where the action is

•

Crew with a real passion for travel

•

More free time to do what you want

•

Lots of included experiences

•

We don’t ask for tips. Ever

•

All our travellers are 18-30 somethings

•

More included meals 21 EPIC THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT AUS & NZ | 07

Cooking with fire With a climate made for outdoor living and cooking, the barbecue is a national symbol of pride in Australia and New Zealand.

From humble backyard sausage sizzles to epic steak outs, expect a food culture celebrating meat in all its forms.

WILD CUTS: Kangaroo – Lean, healthy and a bit gamey.

Emu – Gamey flavour tasting like a mix between chicken and red meat.

Possum - For the wild at heart.

Crocodile – Often seen on menus in the far northern parts of Australia. Tastes like a mix between chicken and calamari.

Grape escapes The world’s best weather translates to, yep you guessed it, some of the best wines you can get your hands on. Check out the cellar doors in the Hunter and Clare Valleys in Australia or New Zealand’s Marlborough Valley for some of the best drops in the southern hemisphere.

TOP GRAPES Hunter Valley (AU): Semillon, Shiraz.

Clare Valley (AU): Riesling.

Marlborough Valley (NZ): Sauvignon Blanc

See: food For a place that’s most famous for its seal colonies, whale population and dolphin swims, Kaikoura surely doesn’t lack tasty oceanic treats. The name literally translates as “eat crayfish” in the local Ngai Tahi dialect, which is probably the only seal of approval you’ll ever need. Check out the Craypot in town for the best chowder around.

CHOW DOWN Budget: Fish & chips (“fush & chups” locally).

Mid-range: Whitebait fritters High-end: Crayfish.

BUSH TUCKER | 09

EXPLORE

GO Hit the tarmac

Stories worth sharing

The best things in life are handcrafted. All our experiences have

There are two kinds of stories emerging from the road. The first one

been perfected over time with you in mind. We know a good road

is about places, food and good times. These are the stories you tell

trip should be more like Thelma & Louise than that tacky movie with

your Facebook friends, but they’re not the ones that matter.

Britney Spears. It’s adventure with style.

Our recipe is simple: A coach (or mini bus) built for comfort, a group of young explorers and handcrafted itineraries designed to mix freedom with epic experiences.

Real stories are shared with the people you meet - bonds created between people who truly lived and friendships forged in the most unlikely places. These are the stories we have been creating for over forty years.

PLAY

STAY No more FOMO

Just press play

Let’s face it, location matters. There’s a certain kind of feeling that

We were born to fly and we dare to soar. We were born into a world

comes with being able to ninja roll straight off a boat into warm,

where change is the only constant and we don’t like living our lives

tropical waters.

on repeat.

Say sayonara to the hostel trail, you won’t miss it. G’day island resort,

All our trips are designed to let you roam free while keeping things

swag nights under the stars and breakfast on a yacht, We know the

hassle free. We’ve got the bucket list sorted, the accommodation

power of FOMO and have handpicked all our accommodation to

booked, and enough time built in to let you do your thing. Press

make sure you can make the most of your trip.

pause or play and explore the world at your own pace.

GO, EXPLORE, STAY, PLAY | 11

AU S

TURTLE POWER Known as ancient mariners, turtles have been swimming the world’s oceans for more than 200 million years. Every year thousands of turtles hit the eastern Australian seaboard to nest and lay the ground for the next generation of little green dudes. Rock on.

SPOT ONE: Cairns, Whitsundays, Byron Bay and sometimes Fraser Island.

AU S

KANGAROO DUNDEE Chris Brolga is a man with a mission: to build Central Australia’s first wildlife hospital. Visit one of Australia’s most remote kangaroo sanctuaries for a life-changing insight into how orphaned kangaroos are nursed back to life in the Australian outback.

CHECK IT OUT: Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary OPTION 2: Coober Pedy Kangaroo Orphanage

AU S + N Z

AU S

WHALE SPEAK

KOALITY TIME

The nutrient-rich waters and proximity to Antarctica makes

This is probably the fluffiest creature to come out of

of whale species ranging from migrating humpbacks to

Australia. The average koala’s low-calorie diet means it

orcas and even blue whales.

needs to sleep 18-22 hours per day. The rest of the time is spent looking unbearably cuddly.

HUG ONE: Cairns, Gold Coast

Australia and New Zealand global hotspots for a number

SPOT ONE IN AUS: Gold Coast, May-Sep (humpbacks) SPOT ONE IN NZ: Kaikoura, year-round (sperm whales), Nov-Feb (orcas), and blue whales if you’re really lucky.

WILD SIDE | 13

TRAVEL BUDGET Info

On your own USD 7 Day Southern Explorer

GET AROUND

E AT

S T AY

SEE

DO

Car rental and fuel for 7 days.

6 breakfasts x $10

6 nights quality accommodation x $60

Local expert New Zealand guides

Milford Sound cruise x $90, Arrowtown bike ride x $35, Kiwi farm experience x $25

Priceless

$1510

3 dinners x $20

(If you’re lucky)

$795

$120

$360

N/A

$150

INCLUDED

INCLUDED

INCLUDED

INCLUDED

INCLUDED

T O TA L C O S T

$1095

SAVE UP TO

$

415

YOUR

CREW HELEN TRIP LEADER From

teaching

English

in

Italy

to

working at Disney World in Florida, Helen is no stranger to life on the road.

Growing up in a country that prides itself on adventure sports and natural beauty, Helen brings a local touch to our trips through Middle Earth.

INSIDE TIP: Hit up Fidel’s on Cuba Street in Wellington for the best milkshake in the South Pacific. For more foodie adventures, check out Dimitris Greek Food in the Re:Start container mall for world-class souvlaki served straight out of a caravan.

LEIGH DRIVER/GUIDE Spending most of his childhood between Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Malaysia, Leigh developed his love for travel at an early age. After ten years on the road with Topdeck, he’s still grateful for being able to help people work up the courage to step out of their comfort zone.

INSIDE TIP: Nothing beats floating down the crystalclear waters of Eli Creek, Fraser Island. If you want something more upbeat, talk to us about the Canyon Swing in Queenstown.

MULTI TRIP DISCOUNT* SAVE 5% off the cheapest trip price when you book 2 trips at the same time. Book 3 at the same time and SAVE 7.5% off the second, and SAVE 10% off the third.

EARLY PAYMENT OPTION*

SAVE 5% off the trip price when you book and pay in full 6 months in advance of your trip departure date.

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS*

SAVE 5% off the trip price for 4 friends who book and travel together.

SAVE 7.5% for 7 friends, and SAVE 10% for 10 friends!

PAST PASSENGER DISCOUNT* SAVE 5% off the trip price if you’ve travelled with Topdeck before. * All above discounts apply to the land portion only, and do not apply to any included flight costs. Only 2 discounts can be combined to a maximum value of 15%. Discounts do not apply to New Years Eve packages or pre and post trip accommodation. All discounts are subject to availability.

For ‘Friends & Discounts’ and ‘Multi Trip Discount’ offers, all passengers must be booked on the same trip at the same time. Only one ‘Friends & Discounts’ can be used.

YOUR CREW | 15

5-17 COUNTRY: NZ

HOTELS, B&B & LODGES

3–4 SHARE

FROM

DAYS

131

TRIP LENGTH

DAY PRICE

$

PER DAY

WISH YOU WERE HERE From the ancient glaciers and fjordscapes in the south to the green, rolling hills on the north island, New Zealand waves a magic wand at every turn. Get up and close with whales and orcas in Kaikoura, trek around Sauron’s old crib at Mt Doom or throw yourself off just about anything.

Adventure starts here.

HIGHLIGHTS: +

Go skydiving, bungy jumping and whitewater rafting in the adventure capital of the world

+

Experience the postcard landscapes from Lord of the Rings

+

Stay in a traditional Maori marae

+

Try some of the world’s best wines

TRIP

PAGE

17 DAY | Grand Kiwi

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15 DAY | Kiwi Encounter

21

10 DAY | Pure Adrenalin

24

7 DAY

| Southern Explorer

25

7 DAY

| Northern Explorer

26

5 DAY

| Sweet As North

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Need extra space? Single and double supplements are available on most trips. Chat to us for prices and details.

19

DAY 2 Paihia, Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands is big on numbers: 144 islands, 90 miles of beach in one stretch, and 100-metre high Te Paki sand dunes ready for some serious sandboarding action. Get a dose of Kiwi history in Russell – NZ’s first capital. (B,D) DAY 3 Bay of Islands to Rotorua (Marae stay).

NZ is so freakin’ gorgeous it has waterfalls like Whangarei hidden just off the highway. We’ll make a pit stop to walk to the falls on our way back to Auckland, then stomp and slappa da bass with some twists on the traditional haka tonight. (B,D) DAY 4 Rotorua. Goodness gracious, Great (Pacific) Ring of Fire! Mud, Middle Earth and massages are the order of the day in the bubbling, gurgling and sulphur-soaked town of Rotorua. If you’re starting to resemble a muddy prune, discover the Disneyland of mountain biking, go white-water rafting or jump into the real-life landscapes of Tolkien’s dreams. (B) DAY 5 Rotorua to Tongariro National Park.

Worship at the altar of the game they play in heaven and get out-muscled by the future All Blacks. Next up: Lake Taupo and a hole in one challenge that could see you bag $10,000 (just watch the water traps). Tonight, join the debate over who really invented the pavlova. #AustraliavsNZ (B,D) DAY 6 Tongariro National Park. Lace up your boots and get ready to tramp the lunar landscape of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – home to two active volcanoes, old lava flows, emerald lakes and hot springs. No jandals, bro. Too hardcore? Save your feet and take to wheels or skis.(B) DAY 7 Tongariro National Park to Wellington.

From hiking over lava to readjusting to city life, today we thaw out in Wellington. As well as being home to Te Papa (NZ National Museum), it’s also the sporting capital of NZ and officially vampire friendly. #truestory. (B) DAY 8 Wellington to Nelson. Ferry into the arms of the world’s best Sauv Blanc on the banks of the Marlborough Sounds and enjoy a private tasting in a family-owned vineyard. Work out how many bottles you can fit in your suitcase without breaking your back. (B) DAY 9 Nelson. Dense forest, snow capped mountains and the epic Abel Tasman National Park.

Kayak with seals, go horse riding or jump out of a plane. It’s a good thing you have the whole day to explore. (B,D) DAY 10 Nelson to Christchurch via Kaikoura.

Get clucky (yep, even you guys) over friendly fur seals on our journey down the east coast. Make more marine mates in Kaikoura, where whales and dolphins are happier than hipsters in a cold-pressed juice bar. After gorging on crayfish we roll down to Christchurch, which matched the 2011 shakedown and raised it with new pop-up bars, and a shipping container shopping precinct. (B) DAY 11 Christchurch to Fox Glacier. Like a giant green Rubik’s cube at the base of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury Plains make for epic scenery. Stop for whitebait fritters and Pounamu (Jade) pendant shopping, then cross your fingers for the money shot of NZ’s two tallest mountain peaks reflected in Lake Matheson #picoftheday. (B,D) DAY 12 Fox Glacier to Queenstown. Sing "Let it go" today as we hit up NZ's most famous glacier. Strap

16

BREAKFASTS

7

DINNERS

On the bucket list (included) + Stunning Bay of Islands & ‘Rock the Boat’ upgrade option + Overnight in a traditional Maori Marae + Kapa Haka performance + Rugby lesson at NZ Sports Academy + Traditional Kiwi lamb roast dinner with pavlova + Tongariro NP & Lake Taupo + Wine tasting in Marlborough + Kaikoura Peninsula & marine life + Stay in Fox Glacier + Milford Sound experience + Arrow River bike trails + Kiwi Farm experience in Fairlie

More inclusions + 16 breakfasts (B), 1 afternoon tea (AT), 7 dinners (D) + 15 nights in hotels, motels & lodges, 1 night in a traditional Maori Marae + Cook Strait ferry crossing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver on some crampons and get an up-close look on an ice walk or heli-hike. Then journey past Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea and feel your pulse start to quicken as we roll into Queenstown. (B)

DAY 13 & 14 Queenstown. Queenstown has adrenaline on tap. Get your fix with bungy, a narrow canyon swing, Shotover Jet, or paragliding, hiking, horse riding and the skyline gondola. If you’re bored here, there’s something wrong. Need some time out?

Head to the Kiwi Birdlife Park, soak in a Japanese onsen, or kick back with a local pinot. (B,D) (B) DAY 15 Queenstown to Fiordland (incl. Milford Sound). By now you might be becoming a little desensitised to the otherworldly beauty of NZ but when you see the Fjords for the first time, it’s okay to cry. Carved by glaciers during the ice age, the Milford Sound comes complete with seals, dolphins and thundering waterfalls. (B) DAY 16 Fiordland to Lake Ohau. Zig-zag a goldbearing river on a mountain bike ride through A+ scenery. Think: icy clear pools, an 80m suspension bridge, and ending at the site of the world’s first bungy. Will you jump? (B,D) DAY 17 Lake Ohau to Christchurch (via Mt Cook Village). Sheep outnumber humans 12:1 here, so it makes sense that today includes the Church of the Good Shepherd, a monument to the faithful sheep dog and a chance to watch the ankle biters in action on a Kiwi farm. Hey now, hey now, don’t dream it’s over… we finish in Christchurch but where will you go next? (B,AT)

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY AUCKLAND OR CHRISTCHURCH

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: ANGKBC/ANGKCB Ex. Auckland ANGKBC Start Finish 2015 03 Jan 19 Jan 14 Jan 30 Jan 24 Jan 09 Feb 04 Feb 20 Feb 15 Feb 03 Mar 25 Feb 13 Mar 08 Mar 24 Mar 19 Mar 04 Apr 29 Mar 14 Apr 9 Apr 25 Apr 19 Apr 5 May 10 May 26 May 21 May 6 Jun 11 Jun 27 Jun 21 Jun 7 Jul 25 Jun 11 Jul 12 Jul 28 Jul 23 Jul 8 Aug 13 Aug 29 Aug 23 Aug 8 Sep 10 Sep 26 Sep 13 Sep 29 Sep 24 Sep 10 Oct 15 Oct 31 Oct 25 Oct 10 Nov 5 Nov 21 Nov 15 Nov 1 Dec 26 Nov 12 Dec 10 Dec 26 Dec 13 Dec 29 Dec 17 Dec 2 Jan 27 Dec 12 Jan 2016 12 Jan 28 Jan 17 Jan 2 Feb 28 Jan 13 Feb 7 Feb 23 Feb 18 Feb 5 Mar 28 Feb 15 Mar 10 Mar 26 Mar 20 Mar 5 Apr

G G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G

G G G G G

Ex. Christchurch ANGKCB Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 26 Jan 21 Jan 06 Feb 01 Feb 17 Feb G 11 Feb 27 Feb 22 Feb 10 Mar 05 Mar 21 Mar G 15 Mar 31 Mar 26 Mar 11 Apr 5 Apr 21 Apr G 26 Apr 12 May G 7 May 23 May G 28 May 13 Jun G 7 Jun 23 Jun G 28 Jun 14 Jul G 9 Jul 25 Jul G 12 Jul 28 Jul 30 Jul 15 Aug G 9 Aug 25 Aug G 30 Aug 15 Sep G 10 Sep 26 Sep G 27 Sep 13 Oct 1 Oct 17 Oct G 11 Oct 27 Oct G 18 Oct 3 Nov 1 Nov 17 Nov G 12 Nov 28 Nov G 22 Nov 8 Dec 29 Nov 15 Dec 3 Dec 19 Dec G 13 Dec 29 Dec G 29 Dec 14 Jan 2016 3 Jan 19 Jan G 14 Jan 30 Jan G 24 Jan 9 Feb G 29 Jan 14 Feb 4 Feb 20 Feb G 14 Feb 1 Mar G 25 Feb 12 Mar 6 Mar 22 Mar G 17 Mar 2 Apr G 27 Mar 12 Apr

Ex. Auckland ANGKBC Start 11.30am Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland Finish 6.30pm Jailhouse Hostel or 7.00pm Bealeys Hotel Christchurch

TRIP PRICE OF $2495

TRIP PRICE OF $2535

TRIP PRICE OF $2795

TRIP PRICE OF $2855

Ex. Christchurch ANGKCB Start 7.00am Bealeys Hotel or 7.30am Jailhouse Hostel Christchurch Finish 11.30am Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland

TRIP PRICE OF $2895 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

17 DAYS FROM

2495

$

PER PERSON

St

DAY 1 Auckland to Paihia, Bay of Islands.

Steal away from ‘the maiden with a thousand lovers’ (aka Auckland) and step into a Jurassic park adventure 130 million years in the making. Become a tree hugging hippie as you wrap your arms around NZ’s botanical elder, the Kauri tree. Rock the boat on an optional overnight houseboat trip.

CHRISTCHURCH

$1 artin 47 g f /d rom ay

AUCKLAND

New Zealand

17 DAY Grand Kiwi

FLEXIBLE ADVENTURE GUARANTEED DEPARTURES

ROLLING DEPOSITS

OPEN-DATED PASSES*

You’re a born decision maker and want all your ducks in a row? No problem. Look for the little ‘G’ icon next to the trip date for trips that will leave rain, hail or shine.

New guaranteed trips are added daily so make sure to check our website for up to date information.

Even the best plans can go up in smoke. If you cancel your trip more than six weeks before your departure, we’ll keep your initial deposit amount as a voucher to use towards your next trip with us. Too easy.

Studying abroad or waiting for the right flights? Secure your spot now with an open-dated pass and we can work out the dates later. Easy!

*See p. 63 for full terms and conditions.

21

DAY 2 Rotorua. There are 14 lakes around Rotorua and with geothermal steam vents everywhere, things are going to get a little steamy. Relax in the hot springs, have a traditional Miri Miri massage or get more blood rushing and raft, bike or Zorb around this outdoor playground. (B) DAY 3 Rotorua to Tongariro National Park. Gurgle, burp, plop… boiling, bubbling mud is just one of the star attractions on our way out of town. At Spa Park, pick your perfect temperature where the hot spring meets the Waikato River. Tonight, save room for Australia’s national dessert: the Pavlova. #AustraliaclaimsanythinggoodfromNZ. (B,D) DAY 4 Tongariro National Park. New Zealand’s first National Park likes to show off. It’s home to two active volcanoes, a cold mountain spring, lava flows, an active crater, emerald lakes and hot springs.

Stretch your legs with walks from 20 mins to 8 hours and once back at the lodge, warm your feet by the fire. Hot tip: that pic on the left? Yep, that's it. (B) DAY 5 Tongariro National Park to Wellington.

We’ve hit the nation’s capital, Wellington (no, it’s not Auckland!). After you conquer the six floors of Te Papa, you’ll probably be ready for a big city nightlife hit. Festivals, live music and craft beer bars will keep you busy. (B) DAY 6 Wellington to Nelson. Make a grape escape to the South Island and the 700 wineries surrounding the Marlborough Sounds. With postcard-perfect vistas and 35,000 hectares under vines she’s a slice of heaven, yeah, she’s a slice of heaven, yeah. (B) DAY 7 Nelson. Choose your own adventure today: throw clay or wield a paintbrush in the creative artist hub. Skydive, kayak, take a horse ride or quad bike to explore the mountains, forests and water. Or go treasure hunting in Nelson’s galleries. (B,D) DAY 8 Nelson to Christchurch via Kaikoura.

Fancy some ‘fush and chups’? You’re spoilt for choice in Kaikoura where Kai = Food and Koura = Crayfish.

Brace yourself for the triple threat of acrobatic sperm whales, orcas and humpbacks on a whale watching tour and melt over the cuteness of fur seals under the falls. Congratulations, you made it. Welcome to the crusader heartland. (B) DAY 9 Christchurch to Fox Glacier. Through the patchwork Canterbury Plains, Arthur passed this way in 1864 and mapped one of only three routes over the southern Alps to the wild west coast – a place as rugged and captivating as Russell Crowe. #kiwinotaussie (B,D) DAY 10 Fox Glacier to Queenstown. I’m blue da ba dee da ba die… captivating deep blue glacial ice will be burnt into your memory after a morning on the Fox Glacier. Take a helicopter to explore the ice caves higher up. (B) DAY 11 & 12 Queenstown. Forget personal grooming for the next two whole days. There simply isn’t enough time to bungy jump, jet boat, canyon swing, horseback ride, ski, dirt bike, white water sledge, 4wd, paraglide, and hike to even think about brushing your teeth. (Bx2,Dx1) DAY 13 Queenstown to Fiordland (incl Milford Sound). Instagram account meltdown warning!

Today is going to chew through your memory cards with Mirror Lake and Hollyford Valley the double layer cake and Milford Sound the icing. Sheer rock faces towering 1,200m above sea level, wildlife and

14

BREAKFASTS

6

DINNERS

On the bucket list (included) + Overnight in a traditional Maori Marae + Kapa Haka performance + Traditional Kiwi lamb roast dinner with pavlova + Tongariro NP & Lake Taupo + Wine Tasting in Marlborough + Kaikoura Peninsula & marine life + Stay in Fox Glacier + Milford Sound experience + Arrow River bike trails + Kiwi Farm experience in Fairlie + Rugby lesson at NZ Sports Academy

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY AUCKLAND OR CHRISTCHURCH

More inclusions + 14 breakfasts (B), 1 afternoon tea (AT), 6 dinners (D) + 13 nights in hotels, motels & lodges, 1 night in a traditional Maori Marae + Cook Strait ferry crossing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver waterfalls combine like an inch-thick chocolate ganache… 100% pure mouth-watering decadence out on the sound. (B)

DAY 14 Fiordland to Lake Ohau. Recharge your batteries with venison burgers and a central Otago pinot noir in Arrowtown, but don’t over indulge – we’re heading off on a zig-zagging mountain bike ride along the Arrow River. Once you’ve successfully conquered the original bungy bridge, cool your heels and practice your stone-skimming skills in Lake Ohau.

(B,D) DAY 15 Lake Ohau to Christchurch (via Mt Cook Village). Aoraki (Mt Cook) will be the sign-post on the journey today but the border collies will provide the direction. A kiwi farm adventure in the middle of sheep country will keep ewe happy. Today we shut the gate on this adventure but you can still let the dogs out in Christchurch. (B,AT) This trip is a section of the 17 Day Grand Kiwi trip. See p.19 for more details.

Ex. Auckland ANGKAC Start 1.00pm Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland Finish 6.30pm Jailhouse Hostel or 7.00pm Bealeys Hotel Christchurch Ex. Christchurch ANGKCA Start 7.00am Bealeys Hotel or 7.30am Jailhouse Hostel Christchurch Finish 11.30am Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: ANGKAC/ANGKCA Ex. Auckland ANGKAC Start Finish 2015 05 Jan 19 Jan 16 Jan 30 Jan 26 Jan 09 Feb 06 Feb 20 Feb 17 Feb 03 Mar 27 Feb 13 Mar 10 Mar 24 Mar 21 Mar 04 Apr 11 Apr 25 Apr 21 Apr 5 May 12 May 26 May 23 May 6 Jun 13 Jun 27 Jun 23 Jun 7 Jul 27 Jun 11 Jul 14 Jul 28 Jul 25 Jul 8 Aug 15 Aug 29 Aug 25 Aug 8 Sep 12 Sep 26 Sep 15 Sep 29 Sep 26 Sep 10 Oct 17 Oct 31 Oct 27 Oct 10 Nov 07 Nov 21 Nov 17 Nov 1 Dec 28 Nov 12 Dec 12 Dec 26 Dec 15 Dec 29 Dec 19 Dec 2 Jan 29 Dec 12 Jan 2016 14 Jan 28 Jan 19 Jan 2 Feb 30 Jan 13 Feb 09 Feb 23 Feb 20 Feb 5 Mar 01 Mar 15 Mar 12 Mar 26 Mar 22 Mar 5 Apr

G G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G

G G G G G

Ex. Christchurch ANGKCA Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 24 Jan 21 Jan 04 Feb 01 Feb 15 Feb G 11 Feb 25 Feb 22 Feb 08 Mar 05 Mar 19 Mar G 15 Mar 29 Mar 26 Mar 09 Apr 5 Apr 19 Apr G 26 Apr 10 May G 7 May 21 May G 28 May 11 Jun G 7 Jun 21 Jun G 28 Jun 12 Jul G 9 Jul 23 Jul G 12 Jul 26 Jul 30 Jul 13 Aug G 9 Aug 23 Aug G 30 Aug 13 Sep G 10 Sep 24 Sep G 27 Sep 11 Oct 1 Oct 15 Oct G 11 Oct 25 Oct G 18 Oct 01 Nov 1 Nov 15 Nov G 12 Nov 26 Nov G 22 Nov 06 Dec 29 Nov 13 Dec 3 Dec 17 Dec G 13 Dec 27 Dec G 29 Dec 12 Jan 2016 3 Jan 17 Jan G 14 Jan 28 Jan G 24 Jan 07 Feb 29 Jan 12 Feb 4 Feb 18 Feb G 14 Feb 28 Feb G 25 Feb 10 Mar 6 Mar 20 Mar G 17 Mar 31 Mar G 27 Mar 10 Apr

TRIP PRICE OF $2250

TRIP PRICE OF $2305

TRIP PRICE OF $2550

TRIP PRICE OF $2595

TRIP PRICE OF $2655 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

15 DAYS FROM

2250

$

PER PERSON

St

DAY 1 Auckland to Rotorua (Marae stay).

New Zealand is ‘bout to get up in your face!

Sulphur smells lingering in your nose, Maori legends filling your ears, a feast on your lips and the Haka shaking your bones. It’s all part of the welcome at a traditional marae. (D)

CHRISTCHURCH

$1 artin 50 g f /d rom ay

AUCKLAND

New Zealand

15 DAY Kiwi Encounter

DROPZO ZO

“LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE” NEALE DONALD WALSCH

ONE LEAP OF FAITH How long is this piece of string? How high did you say it was again? Whose idea was this anyway? All perfectly valid thoughts as you stare into the abyss at Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown.

You’re here to test your limits and show yourself that anything’s possible.

And, well, because YOLO.

BY THE NUMBERS Height (Kawarau Bridge): 43 metres Attachment points: 2 (hip and ankles) Max cord extension: 3 times its length Years experience: 25 Safe jumps worldwide: 2.5 million Conclusion: Perfectly safe. Life changing.

Takes guts.

Grand Kiwi

19

Pure Adrenalin

24

Spirit of the Pacific

31

DROPZONE | 23

24 New Zealand

10 DAY Pure Adrenalin WELLINGTON

CHRISTCHURCH

9

BREAKFASTS

4

DINNERS

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY WELLINGTON OR CHRISTCHURCH

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + +

Wine tasting in Marlborough Kaikoura Peninsula & marine life Stay in Fox Glacier Milford Sound experience Arrow River bike trails Kiwi Farm experience in Fairlie

More inclusions + 9 breakfasts (B), 1 afternoon tea (AT), 4 dinners (D) + 9 nights in hotel, motels & lodges + Cook Strait ferry crossing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver TRIP PRICE OF $1460

TRIP PRICE OF $1499

TRIP PRICE OF $1620

TRIP PRICE OF $1655

TRIP PRICE OF $1715 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE W7 = CAN BE LINKED WITH THE WELLINGTON RUGBY 7’S PACKAGE

10 DAYS FROM

1460

$

PER PERSON

DAY 1 Wellington to Nelson. Start your South Island trip like a boss. First up: a secret winery in the heart of the Marlborough Region with the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. Check mate.

DAY 2 Nelson. There’s so much sunshine in Nelson you will get sick of it. Escape plan: get as far away from the sun as possible with a splunk in the southern hemisphere’s deepest cave system. On second thought, let's just stick with the sunshine.

Kayaking with seals, anyone? (B,D) DAY 3 Nelson to Christchurch via Kaikoura. Seal pups are cute. Seal pups playing under a waterfall is Kaikoura cute. Jump in the water with them for a lesson in next-level underwater acrobatics. (B) DAY 4 Christchurch to Fox Glacier. During the gold rush, a committee spent £200 to find the best way across the Southern Alps so you wouldn’t have to.

(B,D) DAY 5 Fox Glacier to Queenstown. Some glaciers are good-looking but few get called a fox. Slip into some sexy crampons and walk up, down and inside all 13 kilometres of it. (B) DAY 6 & 7 Queenstown. Here’s some basic math: Queenstown has over 220 activities; you have two days. No rush. Prepare for more adventure than you can shake a stick at. Also: Fergburger. (Bx2,Dx1) DAY 8 Queenstown to Fiordland (incl.Milford Sound). James Cook was too chicken to sail his ship into the waters of Milford Sound because he feared he wouldn’t get out again. The Maori used it as a playground. When in Rome… (B) DAY 9 Fiordland to Lake Ohau. It's time to test your nerves at the birthplace of bungy jumping.

Think about it during our mountain bike ride through Arrowtown this morning. (B,D)

$1

om fr g ay tin /d ar St 46

DAY 10 Lake Ohau to Christchurch (via Mt Cook Village). New Zealand is home to more than 35 million sheep and only 3 million people, so it’s time to get to know the locals. Yeah, sheep are kind of a big deal. (B,AT) This trip is a section of the 17 Day Grand Kiwi trip. See p.19 for more details.

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: ANGKWC/ANGKCW Ex. Wellington ANGKWC Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 19 Jan G 21 Jan 30 Jan G 31 Jan 09 Feb 11 Feb 20 Feb W7 22 Feb 03 Mar G 04 Mar 13 Mar 15 Mar 24 Mar 26 Mar 04 Apr G 29 Mar 04 Apr 16 Apr 25 Apr G 26 Apr 5 May G 17 May 26 May G 28 May 6 Jun G 18 Jun 27 Jun G 28 Jun 7 Jul G 02 Jul 11 Jul 19 Jul 28 Jul G 30 Jul 8 Aug G 20 Aug 29 Aug G 30 Aug 8 Sep G 17 Sep 26 Sep 20 Sep 29 Sep G 01 Oct 10 Oct G 22 Oct 31 Oct G 01 Nov 10 Nov G 12 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 1 Dec G 03 Dec 12 Dec G 17 Dec 26 Dec 20 Dec 29 Dec 24 Dec 2 Jan G 2016 03 Jan 12 Jan G 19 Jan 28 Jan 24 Jan 2 Feb G 04 Feb 13 Feb G 14 Feb 23 Feb 25 Feb 5 Mar G 06 Mar 15 Mar G 17 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 5 Apr G

USD

Ex. Christchurch ANGKCW Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 19 Jan 21 Jan 30 Jan 01 Feb 10 Feb G,W7 11 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 03 Mar 05 Mar 14 Mar G 15 Mar 24 Mar 26 Mar 04 Apr 5 Apr 14 Apr G 26 Apr 05 May G 7 May 16 May G 28 May 06 Jun G 7 Jun 16 Jun G 28 Jun 07 Jul G 9 Jul 18 Jul G 12 Jul 21 Jul 30 Jul 08 Aug G 9 Aug 18 Aug G 30 Aug 08 Sep G 10 Sep 19 Sep G 27 Sep 06 Oct 1 Oct 10 Oct G 11 Oct 20 Oct G 18 Oct 27 Oct 1 Nov 10 Nov G 12 Nov 21 Nov G 22 Nov 01 Dec 29 Nov 08 Dec 3 Dec 12 Dec G 13 Dec 22 Dec G 29 Dec 07 Jan 2016 3 Jan 12 Jan G 14 Jan 23 Jan G 24 Jan 02 Feb W7 29 Jan 07 Feb 4 Feb 13 Feb G 14 Feb 23 Feb G 25 Feb 05 Mar 6 Mar 15 Mar G 17 Mar 26 Mar G 27 Mar 05 Apr

Ex. Wellington ANGKWC Start 7.00am Travelodge Hotel Wellington Finish 6.30pm Jailhouse Hostel or 7.00pm Bealeys Hotel Christchurch Ex. Christchurch ANGKCW Start 7.00am Bealeys Hotel or 7.30am Jailhouse Hostel Christchurch Finish 5.30pm Travelodge Hotel Wellington

25

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: ANGKCO Start 2015 02 10 13 21 24 01 03 11 14 22 25 05 07 15 18 26 29 03 05 08 10 19 26 29 07 20 28 31 07 21 28 01 05 09 12 22 30 02 09 23 30

Finish

Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr May May May May Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Aug

Start Finish

08 16 19 27 30 07 09 17 20 28 03 11 13 21 24 01 04 9 11 14 16 25 2 5 13 26 3 6 13 27 4 7 11 15 18 28 5 8 15 29 5

Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr May May May May Jun Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Aug Sep

G G G

G G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Start 02 10 20 23 27 01 04 11 18 25 01 04 12 15 22 25 29 03 06 13 20 23 27 29 2016 03 06 10 14 17 22 24 29 04 07 14 17 25 28 06 09 17 20 25 27 30

Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar

Finish 8 Sep 16 Sep 26 Sep 29 Sep 3 Oct 7 Oct 10 Oct 17 Oct 24 Oct 31 Oct 7 Nov 10 Nov 18 Nov 21 Nov 28 Nov 1 Dec 5 Dec 9 Dec 12 Dec 19 Dec 26 Dec 29 Dec 2 Jan 4 Jan 9 12 16 20 23 28 30 4 10 13 20 23 2 5 12 15 23 26 31 2 5

7.00am Bealeys Hotel or 7.30am Jailhouse Hostel Christchurch 6.30pm Jailhouse Hostel or 7.00pm Bealeys Hotel

Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G G G G G G

G

6

BREAKFASTS

3

DINNERS

DAY 1 Christchurch to Fox Glacier. Follow in the furry footsteps of Frodo Baggins as we Hobbit our way across the South Island. Roll across the pastoral patchwork quilt that forms the Canterbury Plains as 50 shades of green melt into snow-topped peaks.

Excited? You should be. (D) DAY 2 Fox Glacier to Queenstown. Today’s your chance to walk on water. Well, frozen glacial water to be precise. For your next miracle, scale a mountain in minutes to get amongst ethereal ice caves and formations. Next up: adventure in Queenstown. He who dares wins, so will it be one Fergburger or two?

(B) DAY 3 & 4 Queenstown. Put the scenery (and your nerves) on ice and get ready to jump (*cue Mission Impossible soundtrack*). Your mission should you choose to accept it: bungy jump or giant swing through a narrow canyon, skim canyon walls on the Shotover Jet, ride on horseback or take it all in on the skyline gondola. Badass. (Bx2,Dx1) DAY 5 Queenstown to Fiordland (incl.Milford Sound). Experience a land before time as we cruise through the ancient Fjords and snow-capped peaks of the Milford Sound. You probably won’t see any woolly mammoths, but dolphins and fur seals? You can pretty much bet your snow boots on it. Steeped in Maori myth, this is a history and geology lesson rolled into one, minus the homework. (B) DAY 6 Fiordland to Lake Ohau. Now we ain’t sayin’ you’re a gold digger, but back in the heyday of Arrowtown, everyone was. Zig-zag across the five bridges that span the ever-changing Arrow River on a mountain bike, test your nerves on the suspension bridge then shatter them completely at the birthplace of bungy. (B,D) DAY 7 Lake Ohau to Christchurch (via Mt Cook Village). Lap up Lake Tekapo under the shadow of Mt Cook then cue more supermodel scenery as we hit up a Kiwi sheep farm. View the bronze memorial to the collie dogs that tamed this unforgiving land then see them handle the woolly beasts like a boss.

(B, AT) This trip is a section of the 17 Day Grand Kiwi trip. See p.19 for more details.

COACH WI-FI

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + + + +

Stay in Fox Glacier Milford Sound experience Arrow River bike trails Kiwi Farm experience in Fairlie

More inclusions + 6 breakfasts (B), 1 afternoon tea (AT), 3 dinners (D) + 6 nights in hotels & lodges + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver TRIP PRICE OF $1030

TRIP PRICE OF $1095

TRIP PRICE OF $1195 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

7 DAYS FROM

1030

$

PER PERSON

St

CHRISTCHURCH

$1 artin 47 g f /d rom ay

CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand

7 DAY Southern Explorer

26 New Zealand

7 DAY Northern Explorer AUCKLAND

WELLINGTON

6

BREAKFASTS

3

DINNERS

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY AUCKLAND OR WELLINGTON

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + Stunning Bay of Islands & ‘Rock the Boat’ upgrade option + Overnight in a traditional Maori Marae + Kapa Haka performance + Rugby lesson at NZ Sports Academy + Traditional Kiwi lamb roast dinner with pavlova + Tongariro NP & Lake Taupo

More inclusions + 6 breakfasts (B), 3 dinners (D) + 5 nights in hotels, motels & lodges, 1 night in a traditional Maori Marae + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver

TRIP PRICE OF $935

TRIP PRICE OF $1055

TRIP PRICE OF $1075 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE W7 = CAN BE LINKED WITH THE WELLINGTON RUGBY 7’S PACKAGE

7 DAYS FROM

935

$

PER PERSON

DAY 1 Auckland to Paihia, Bay of Islands. James Cook named our first stop the ‘Bay of Islands’. Well, you know what to expect. Seeing all 144 islands might take a while, so grab the optional ‘Rock the Boat’ island tour. Just don’t tip the boat over.

DAY 2 Paihia, Bay of Islands. Ride down 80-100 metre dunes as many times as your legs can carry you back up. Or grab a kayak and paddle under the Haruru Falls. We’re having fish and chips for dinner so good thing you did all that exercise. (B,D) Day 3: Bay of Islands to Rotorua (Marae Experience). Navigating using only the stars and sub-tropical wind systems, the Maori people set off from their homeland and travelled thousands of miles to arrive in Aotearoa. We get to take the bus. Their bone chisel face tattoos may seem intimidating but one little nose rub and you’ll be BFFs for life. (B,D) DAY 4 Rotorua. Sulphur pools and volcanoes surround you in Rotorua, so take a mud bath and breathe in the funk. The Te Arawa people have been tapping into the steamy benefits of their home on the Ring of Fire for hundreds of years so forget the drive-through and have a steam box hangi lunch. (B) DAY 5 Rotorua to Tongariro National Park. Wai-OTapu is a tie-dye of colour and a steaming hot pile of awesome. Mud pools bubble up and make sounds that you’d usually have to be excused for. On the bus then jump off a bridge in Taupo, then make like Frodo and head for Mount Doom. (B,D) DAY 6 Tongariro National Park. With dual cultural and natural heritage status, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is as badass as they come. Two active volcanoes, a cold mountain spring, lava flows, an active crater, emerald lakes and hot springs will fill your camera and grey matter memory in no time. (B) DAY 7 Tongariro National Park to Wellington.

Wellington is home to a squid so big; it has its own website. With more bars and restaurants per capita than New York, that craft beer never tasted so good after exploring Te Papa museum’s six levels of awesome. (B)

$1

om fr y g da tin ar 4/ St 3

This trip is a section of the 17 Day Grand Kiwi trip. See p.19 for more details.

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: ANGKAW/ANGKWA Ex. Auckland ANGKAW Start Finish 2015 03 14 24 04 15 25 08 19 29

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

09 20 30 10 21 03 14 25 04

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

G G

09 19 10 21 11 21 25 12 23 13 23 10 13 24 15 25 05 15 26 10 13 17 27 2016 12 17 28 07 18 28 10 20

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

15 25 16 27 17 27 01 18 29 19 29 16 19 30 21 31 11 21 02 16 19 23 02

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Jan

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar

18 23 03 13 24 05 16 26

Jan Jan G Feb G,W7 Feb Feb G Mar G Mar Mar G

G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G

Ex. Wellington ANGKWA Start 2015

Finish

10 20 31 11 21 04 15

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar

16 26 06 17 27 10 21

Jan G Jan Feb Feb G,W7 Feb Mar Mar G

15 06 17 07 17 08 19 22 09 19 09 20 07 11 21 28 11 22 02 09 13 23 2016 08 13 24 03 08 14 24 06 16 27 06

Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

21 12 23 13 23 14 25 28 15 25 15 26 13 17 27 03 17 28 08 15 19 29

Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

14 19 30 09 14 20 01 12 22 02 12

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G

G G G W7 G G G G

Ex. Auckland ANGKAW Start 11.30am Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland Finish 5.30pm Travelodge Hotel Wellington Ex. Wellington ANGKWA Start 8.30am Travelodge Hotel Wellington Finish 11.30am Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland

27

AUCKLAND

WELLINGTON

4

BREAKFASTS

2

DINNERS

New Zealand

5 DAY Sweet As North COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY AUCKLAND OR WELLINGTON

Ex. Wellington ANGKWR Start Finish

05 16 26 06 17 27 10 21 29

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

09 20 30 10 21 03 14 25 02

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

G G

11 21 12 23 13 23 27 14 25 15 25 12 15 26 17 27 07 17 28 12 15 19 29 2016 14 19 30 09 20 01 12 22

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

15 25 16 27 17 27 01 18 29 19 29 16 19 30 21 31 11 21 02 16 19 23 02

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Jan

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

18 23 03 13 24 05 16 26

Jan Jan G Feb G,W7 Feb Feb G Mar G Mar Mar G

G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G

2015 10 20 31 11 21 04 15 25 15 06 17 07 17 08 19 22 09 19 09 20 07 11 21 28 11 22 02 09 13 23 2016 08 13 24 03 08 14 24 06 16 27 06

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

14 24 04 15 25 08 19 29 19 10 21 11 21 12 23 26 13 23 13 24 11 15 25 01 15 26 06 13 17 27

Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

12 17 28 07 12 18 28 10 20 31 10

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G W7 G G G G

Ex. Auckland ANGKRW Start 1.00pm Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland Finish 5.30pm Travelodge Hotel Wellington Ex. Wellington ANGKWR Start 8.30am Travelodge Hotel Wellington Finish 11.30am Mercure Hotel Customs St Auckland

DAY 2 Rotorua. Comb the hair on your feet and head to Hobbiton for a pint at the Green Dragon.

Or jump in a giant clear ball and roll down a hill. The choice is yours. Just make sure you take a mud bath.

The smell is eggy but the mud makes your skin softer than possum fur. (B) DAY 3 Rotorua to Tongariro National Park.

Flex your muscles, hit the footy field and learn the gentleman’s game from the future All Blacks at the NZ Sports Academy. Then past the largest lake in New Zealand. Lake Taupo was formed by an explosion that extended the Ice Age, so yeah, it’s pretty big. Pack your bags and grab your fellowship— it’s time to meet Sauron. (B,D) DAY 4 Tongariro National Park. Binoculars and a digital camera should have been essentials for the Hobbits as they climbed through Mordor. Good thing you came prepared. Nerds and adventurers rejoice as we explore the site of two active volcanoes that will hopefully keep a lid on things. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing will quickly top your list of favourites if you don’t mind heights and the odd lava chamber (and eight hours of hiking). Or opt for quad biking, kayaking or mountain biking before you hit the spa tonight. (B)

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + Overnight in a traditional Maori Marae + Kapa Haka performance + Traditional Kiwi lamb roast dinner with pavlova + Tongariro NP & Lake Taupo + Rugby lesson at NZ Sports Academy

More inclusions + 4 breakfasts (B), 2 dinners (D) + 3 nights in hotels, motels & lodges, 1 night in a traditional Maori Marae + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver

TRIP PRICE OF $655

TRIP PRICE OF $760

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE W7 = CAN BE LINKED WITH THE WELLINGTON RUGBY 7’S PACKAGE

5 DAYS FROM

655

$

PER PERSON

DAY 5 Tongariro National Park to Wellington.

Frodo left Mount Doom on an eagle. Our eagles are getting plumed so it’s back on the bus. In Wellington the only things more abundant than the orcs, goblins and cave trolls are the restaurants and bars—the city claims to have more per capita than New York. Learn how to say ka kite ano (goodbye in Maori) because this is the end of our trip. (B) This trip is a section of the 17 Day Grand Kiwi trip. See p.19 for more details.

St

USD

TRIP CODE: ANGKRW/ANGKWR Ex. Auckland ANGKRW Start Finish 2015

DAY 1 Auckland to Rotorua (Marae Stay). Maori legends and mythology have been passed down orally for thousands of years. You have one night in this sacred meeting house, so pay attention. Learning the tongue-thrusting dance moves of the All Blacks, polishing off a traditional maori dinner and rubbing noses is all part of the official welcome. (D)

$1 artin 31 g f /d rom ay

Dates & Prices 2015-16

3-28 DAYS

COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA

HOTELS & LODGES

3–4 SHARE

TRIP LENGTH

FROM

158

$

PER DAY

DAY PRICE

ENDLESS SUMMER For a continent as wide as the distance from London to Moscow, Australia sure doesn’t lack diversity. Endless, golden beaches, fringing reefs and lush rainforest compete with the scorched space-like red expanses of the outback and some of the world’s most liveable cities. The weather is perfect, life’s good and the food even better so just kick back and enjoy the ride.

HIGHLIGHTS: +

Snorkel & dive the Great Barrier Reef

+

Sail the Whitsunday Islands

+

Sleep in swags under a star-lit sky

+

Explore Kakadu National Park

+

Drive the Great Ocean Road

+

Learn to surf

TRIP

PAGE

22 DAY

| Spirit of the Pacific

31

28 DAY

| Ultimate Aussie Adventure

33

14 DAY

| Island Suntanner

37

12 DAY

| East Coast Cruisin’

38

11 DAY

| Reef Suntanner

39

10 DAY

| Tropical Adventure

40

6 DAY

| Tropical Suntanner

41

5 DAY

| Ultimate Surfari

41

27 DAY

| Grand Aussie

45

20 DAY

| Beach & Bush

47

11 DAY

| Rock ‘N’ Top

51

6 DAY

| Didgeridoo Dreams

52

4 DAY

| Rock 'N’ Canyon

53

8 DAY

| Outback Gem

56

3 DAY

| Southern Cross

57

12 DAY

| Down South & Outback

58

15 DAY

| Opals & Outback

59

19 DAY

| Outback Adventure

61

Need extra space? Single and double supplements are available on most trips. Chat to us for prices and details.

31

SYDNEY/CAIRNS

CHRISTCHURCH

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via the Hunter Valley). Squelch some grapes between your toes and swirl some wine. Then settle into our surf camp with some live tunes. This is only the beginning. (D)

20

BREAKFASTS

4

LUNCHES

10

DINNERS

Australia & NZ

22 DAY Spirit of the Pacific COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR CAIRNS

DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Tackle one of Oz’s best right-handers like a pro with a private surf lesson then high five the Big Banana on our way to blissed-out Byron. (B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. Bondi has its hipsters. Byron has its, well, hipsters too. They’re just more barefoot up this way. Hit the surf, hike to the lighthouse, then grab a raw dessert and settle into the scene. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Natural Bridge is not a bridge at all but a mystical little waterfall tucked into a national park. Get your last bit of zen before hitting Surfers Paradise. (B)

DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. Welcome to cowboy country – a 10,000 acre cattle station.

Bonfire, billy tea and (mechanical) bull riding is on the menu for tonight! (B,D) DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Ride it, shoot it, cook it, kick it, aim it, burn it, cowboymatic. Leave your chaps behind as we head back to the beach.

(B,L,D) DAY 9 Emu Park to the Whitsundays (Sailing). Kick back and relax as we sail into the sunset aboard our private yacht from Airlie Beach. (B,D) DAY 10 Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

The sand on Whitehaven is so pure, legend has it that it was used in the glass for the Hubble Telescope.

Regardless, it’s talcum soft and always cool so lap it up while you can. (B,L,D) DAY 11 Long Island Resort. Like its namesake cocktail, Long Island packs a punch with every type of water sport imaginable and plenty of hammocks slung between coconut trees. Nap. Swim. Repeat. (B) DAY 12 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Some magicians can walk on water. Chuck Norris can swim through land. Make like Chuck and arrive in Cairns for more wildlife than a Attenborough doco. (B) DAY 13 & 14 Cairns. Head out to the reef to get your Nemo fix today. If you wouldn’t be caught dead in a lycra onesie, there’s bungy, skydiving, horse riding, whitewater rafting… if you have to sign a waiver for it, you know it’s going to be good. (Bx2, Dx1) DAY 15 Transfer day Cairns to Christchurch. Fly over the ditch and go directly to Jail(house)—your accommodation for tonight in Kiwi land. (B) DAY 16 Christchurch to Fox Glacier. Break the back of the South Island as we cruise the Canterbury Plains, through Otira Gorge and stop for whitebait fritters and Pounamu (Jade) pendant shopping. How many dudes you know roll like this? (D) DAY 17 Fox Glacier to Queenstown. Slap me down and call me Susan, today you’ll defy science and walk on water. Take a heli hike, then send your tastebuds to heaven at Fergburger tonight. (B) DAY 18 & 19 Queenstown. Go hard with bungy, canyon swing, Shotover Jet, or paragliding. Go medium with hiking, horse riding and the skyline

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

DAY STOP

DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + + + + + +

Wine tasting experience in the Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic goat rodeo at Kroombit Park outback cattle station Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort Stay in Fox Glacier Milford Sound experience Arrow River bike trails Kiwi Farm experience in Fairlie

More inclusions

Dates & Prices 2015-16

04 11 06 27 25 19 26 17 14 21 19

Apr Apr Jun Jun Jul Sep Sep Oct Nov Nov Dec

25 02 27 18 15 10 17 07 05 12 09

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Oct Oct Nov Dec Dec Jan

02 09 20 30 05

Jan Jan Jan Jan Mar

23 30 10 20 26

Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar

2016

+ 20 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 1 afternoon tea (AT), 10 dinners (D) + 21 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver gondola. There are 220 adventure activities to choose. Or continue your mission to work through Fergburger’s 21 different burgers and relax with a glass of NZ pinot (did you know Sam Neil went into winemaking after Jurassic Park?!). (It’s your) choice, bro. (Bx2, Dx1)

DAY 20 Queenstown to Fiordland (incl.Milford Sound). Rudyard Kipling called it the eighth wonder of the world, and today you’ll discover why on our Milford Sound Nature Cruise. Keep an eye out for rare Fiordland Penguins. (B) DAY 21 Fiordland to Lake Ohau. Arwen challenged the Nazgûl here but all you have to do is stay on your mountain bike as we zigzag the Arrow River, breathe in the thyme-scented air and end in the birthplace of bungy. (B,D) DAY 22 Lake Ohau to Christchurch (via Mt Cook Village). Today is all about blue-water lakes, #cloudporn around Aoraki, counting sheep and the Church of the Good Shepherd—with a backdrop that gives heaven a run for its money. (B, AT)

USD

TRIP CODE: AASPSC/AASPCC Ex. Sydney AASPSC Start Finish 2015

Ex. Cairns AASPCC Start Finish 2015 G A A G,A G G,A G,A A G G,A

A A A

16 23 13 20 18 08 15 05 12 03 10 31 07 18 28 05 26

May May Jun Jun Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec

06 13 04 11 08 29 05 26 03 24 31 21 28 09 19 26 16

Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Jan

23 20 02 12

Jan Feb Mar Mar

13 12 23 02

Feb G,DM Mar G,A,D Mar A Apr A

2016

G,D A,M GA,DM M M G,D A,DM D A,M A,D M D A,DM A G,A,D M D

TRIP PRICE OF $3925 TRIP PRICE OF $3995 TRIP PRICE OF $4090 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE A = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO AUCKLAND D = THIS TRIP CAN BE STARTED FROM DARWIN M = THIS TRIP CAN BE STARTED FROM MELBOURNE (CONTACT US FOR PRICES ON LONGER TRIPS)

22 DAYS FROM

3925

$

PER PERSON

Ex. Sydney AASPSC Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 6.30pm Jailhouse Hostel or 7.00pm Bealeys Hotel Christchuch Ex. Cairns AASPCC Start 2.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Finish 6.30pm Jailhouse Hostel or 7.00pm Bealeys Hotel Christchuch PLEASE NOTE - FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE

St

DAY 6 Fraser Island. Road rules on the 75 Mile Beach ‘highway’ include giving way to oncoming aircraft. We got the 4WD for the job as we head to see the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, Maheno Shipwreck and freshwater lakes. (B,L)

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

$1 artin 79 g f /d rom ay

DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Tip your hat to the river city of Brisbane before we head up the highway and ferry to Fraser. Dingo (Bar)’s got your dinner. (B,D)

33

DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Have a surf lesson on one of the best point breaks in the world then high five the Big Banana. (B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. Ride on the peace train in Byron Bay where yoga and chai tea compete with skydiving, surfing and the Top Pub. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Get snap happy at Natural Bridge then surf, shop, or scream your lungs out at a theme park. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Shake the sand out with a Brisbane pit stop. Get ready to accumulate a whole lot more. (B,D) DAY 6 Fraser Island. With more dingoes than humans and 1.84km2 of sand, Fraser is not your average island. See the highlights on a 4WD tour.

(B,L) DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. Can’t handle the heat of the goat rodeo at this station stay? Try the mechanical bull. (B,D) DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. After horse riding and quad biking we’ll shoot off to Emu Park for beach cricket. (B,L,D) DAY 9 Emu Park to The Whitsundays. Go from beef to reef as we pass the big cow and board our private yacht in Airlie Beach. (B,D) DAY 10 Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

Become a bona fide salty sea dog as we hoist the mainsail straight flowin’ on a boat. (B,L,D) DAY 11 Long Island Resort. Stretch your sea legs with 20 kilometres of walking trails, or just chill in a hammock. (B) DAY 12 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Take a big bite out of the tropics at when we arrive in Cairns. Ever tried kangaroo? (B) DAY 13, 14 & 15 Cairns. Swim into your own episode of Planet Earth, snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef. Get primal in the Daintree, raft the best rapids in Oz, skydive or kick back with a coconut. (Bx3, Dx1) DAY 16 Cairns to Alice Springs. It’ll take you three days to drive or two hours to fly. Your choice – but we’ll see you in Alice. (B) DAY 17 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Get drawn into the spell of Uluru as it wraps you in a glowing sunset hug. (B,D) DAY 18 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). Walk the base of Uluru and learn some Indigenous dance moves. Tonight: Stargazing on steroids. (B) DAY 19 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Hike the Valley of the Winds then bus it to Watarrka National Park. Your bed tonight? The great Aussie swag. (B,D) DAY 20 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. The Luritja people have called this area home for more than 20,000 years. See if you like what they’ve done with the place on the Rim Walk. (B,L) DAY 21 Alice Springs to Coober Pedy. South Australia accounts for 80% of the world’s opals and this underground town is its star supplier. (B,D) DAY 22 Coober Pedy to Quorn (Flinders Ranges).

Test your land speed record at a salt lake, before we hit the Miranda Kerr of outback landscapes. (B,D) DAY 23 Quorn to Parachilna (Flinders Ranges).

Today: Rock art, ruins, and the rock crater of Wilpena

27

BREAKFASTS

6

LUNCHES

14

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Wine tasting in the stunning Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon Stay underground in Coober Pedy Visit a kangaroo orphanage Parachilna & famous Outback BBQ Local winery visit in Clare Valley View the magic of the Flinders Ranges Stunning Grampians NP Visit Brambuk Cultural Centre & paint your own boomerang Hike to the base of MacKenzie Falls Great Ocean Road & sunset at Twelve Apostles

More inclusions + 27 breakfasts (B), 6 lunches (L), 14 dinners (D) + 24 nights in hotels, motels, lodges & cabins, 1 night live-aboard sailing, 1 night underground, 1 night in a swag + Awesome Driver/Guide + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicle Pound + a feral mixed grill at the Prairie Hotel.

(B,L,D)

DAY 24 Parachilna to Adelaide. Make a plonk stop at the oldest winery in the Clare Valley. (B)

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR MELBOURNE

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16

DAY 25 Adelaide. Welcome to Radelaide – famed for wine, Kangaroo Island and stayin’ classier than Ron Burgundy, being the only Oz city not settled by convicts. (B) DAY 26 Adelaide to Grampians National Park. Fact: 80% of Victoria’s Indigenous rock art is tattooed into this epic sandstone landscape. (B,D) DAY 27 Grampians National Park to Port Campbell. Channel your Grampians memories into a dot painting then set off on the Great Ocean Road – Instagram ready at every bend. (B,D) DAY 28 Port Campbell to Melbourne (Great Ocean Road). Run to the finish line, stopping at the Twelve Apostles, Bells Beach and onto a tram in Melbourne.

(B) This trip is made up of the 14 Day Island Suntanner and the 12 Day Down South & Outback trips. See p.37 and p.58 for more details.

USD

TRIP CODE: AAUASM/AAUAMS Ex. Sydney AAUASM 28 DAYS Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 06 Feb 17 Jan 13 Feb 07 Feb 06 Mar 14 Feb 13 Mar 07 Mar 03 Apr 11 Apr 08 May 09 May 05 Jun 06 Jun 03 Jul 04 Jul 31 Jul 25 Jul 21 Aug 01 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 25 Sep 26 Sep 23 Oct 17 Oct 13 Nov 24 Oct 20 Nov 21 Nov 18 Dec

G G

CA C C G,C CA CA G,C C G,CA C

Ex. Melbourne AAUAMS 27 DAYS Start Finish 2015 11 Jan 06 Feb 18 Jan 13 Feb G 08 Feb 06 Mar 15 Feb 13 Mar 08 Mar 03 Apr 15 Mar 10 Apr 12 Apr 08 May 10 May 05 Jun CA 31 May 26 Jun G,CA 07 Jun 03 Jul C 05 Jul 31 Jul C 02 Aug 28 Aug CA 23 Aug 18 Sep C 30 Aug 25 Sep CA 27 Sep 23 Oct C 25 Oct 20 Nov CA 15 Nov 11 Dec CA 22 Nov 18 Dec G,C 2016 10 Jan 05 Feb C

TRIP PRICE OF $4250

TRIP PRICE OF $4685

TRIP PRICE OF $4735

TRIP PRICE OF $4775

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE C = THIS TRIP CAN CONTINUE TO CHRISTCHURCH INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN EXPLORER A = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO AUCKLAND (CONTACT US FOR PRICES)

28 DAYS FROM

4250

$

PER PERSON

PLEASE NOTE - FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE

Ex. Sydney AAUASM Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 7.00pm Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne Ex. Darwin AAUSMS Start 6.30am Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney

St

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via Hunter Valley). Get ready to crush up grapes and carve up waves as we taste test the region’s finest and settle into our surf camp. (D)

MELBOURNE

$1 artin 51 g f /d rom ay

SYDNEY

Australia

27/28 DAY Ultimate Aussie Adventure

“JUST KEEP SWIMMING!” DORY (FINDING NEMO)

GOING DOWN Welcome to the pool. You have three choices today: go snorkelling for a topside view, work on the tan or grab some scuba gear and find Nemo.

With 50 shades of blue, tropical water and the whole cast from Finding Nemo to keep you company, this isn’t your average bath tub. Say hello to Mr. Ray, cruise with the turtles and watch schools of fluorescent fish play in the stream of bubbles left in your wake. Just another day in paradise.

BY THE NUMBERS Maximum depth of your first dive: 12 metres.

Experience necessary: none.

Average water temperature: 27c Whale and dolphin species: 30 Turtle species: 6 Average dive time: 30 min

Island Suntanner

37

Reef Suntanner

39

Grand Aussie

45

Hot tip: To avoid FOMO, we recommend pre-booking the Great Barrier Reef day-trip upgrade to secure a spot on the boat. You can decide whether you would like to dive, snorkel or just hang out in the sun on the day.

37

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via the Hunter Valley). Set the tone for this fair dinkum Aussie adventure by crossing Sydney’s iconic ‘coathanger’ as we venture toward the surfing cloud nine of Crescent Head. Before testing the waters, dip your toes into an oak barrel (literally) in the Hunter Valley.

(D) DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Try a barrel of a different kind with an early morning surf lesson.

Here’s your chance to become a bona fide shredder.

Kelly Slater, who? Our roadie continues with a traditional BBQ lunch and a cruise past the Big Banana before arriving at our base. (B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. Anti-Maccas and anti-anything mass-produced (but pro juice bars, beer gardens and beards), Byron is glitzy on the outside but small town-hearted underneath. Hit the shops and restaurants, test out those newly-acquired surfing skills, paddle a sea kayak, try scuba diving or skydive right into the melting pot. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Leave the blissful buzz of Byron behind you as we head to Springbrook National Park and its major draw card, Natural Bridge. Next, swap the national park for a theme park as we make our way to party central, aka Surfers Paradise. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Brisbane is not on the coast. People didn’t seem to like that too much so they built a beach in the middle of the capital city. Have a dip before burning up the highway to catch a ferry bound for the island with the longest beach in Oz – all 75 miles (120kms) of it.

(B,D) DAY 6 Fraser Island. Fraser is literally one huge pile of sand – as if someone dropped the Sahara Desert into the Pacific Ocean and scattered it with dingoes and rainforests. Four-wheel-drive along the beach highway of 75 Mile Beach to mingle with the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, Eli Creek and Maheno Shipwreck before testing out your SUP skills on the crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie. (B,L) DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. Sand and salt got your goat? Trade the beach for the bush and enjoy an authentic outback experience at a 10,000 acre cattle station. Take a dip in the pool, get bucked on the mechanical bull, enjoy camp oven cuisine or take a crack at lassoing after the famous Kroombit ‘goat rodeo’. Hot tip: don’t squat with spurs on. (B,D) DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Take to the life of a cowboy like a horse to oats with an adventurepacked morning of horse riding, quad biking and trap shooting. Then leave the campfire to follow in the footsteps of Captain Cook as we head back to the coast for Emu Park. Spread out on the sand or ‘stump’ yourself with the rules of beach cricket.

(B,L,D) DAY 9 Emu Park to the Whitsundays (Sailing).

Feeling like you need more air in your hair? Bail out of the bus and board your own private yacht sailing the beautiful Whitsunday Passage. *Cue cliched sailing soundtrack.* Normally a toy for the rich and famous, today it’s all yours to learn the ropes while sailing in paradise. Landlubber? Take the diva option and let the crew do the work whilst you feast, swim and snorkel. (B,D) DAY 10 Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

Keep those sunnies on as the blinding white sands of Whitehaven stretch before you like a 7km sea of diamonds and swim with the resident Maori Wrasse at Blue Pearl Bay. Back on board, keep adrift of your seafaring skills by helping to set the sails or steer at the helm as we set course for land and two nights at Long Island Resort. (B,L,D)

13

BREAKFASTS

4

LUNCHES

7

DINNERS

On the bucket list (included) + + + + +

Wine tasting experience in the Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic goat rodeo at Kroombit Park outback cattle station + Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands + Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach + 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR CAIRNS

More inclusions + 13 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D) + 12 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver DAY 11 Long Island Resort. Appropriately named, Long Island is 9km of National Park walking tracks, palm trees and secluded beaches. In keeping with tradition, a looong list of activities has been provided ranging from water sports to mini golf and tennis. (B) DAY 12 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Do your best Scuba Steve impression as we pull into Cairns – gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll soon forget you’re not on a yacht anymore. The night is yours, so take a stroll along the esplanade, join a free zumba class, or jump straight into the hedonistic delights of Cairns’ backpacker bars. (B) DAY 13 & 14 Cairns. This is the only place in the world nestled between two World Heritage-listed areas. Want two full days to explore them? Go on then. Ramp up the adventure metre (and your heart rate) with white water rafting, explore the 120-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest, cuddle a koala or zip line over a crocodile. There’s also horse riding, bungee jumping, tandem skydiving, hot air ballooning or a popular favourite is snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. Yeah, you might want to stay a little longer… (B,D) (B) Ex. Sydney AAISSC Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 5.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Ex. Cairns AAISCS Start 2.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney Don't forget to pre-book your Great Barrier Reef day-trip upgrade to secure a spot on the boat.

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: AAISSC/AAISCS Ex. Sydney AAISSC Start Finish 2015 07 Feb 20 Feb 14 Feb 27 Feb 25 Feb 10 Mar 07 Mar 20 Mar 14 Mar 27 Mar 25 Mar 07 Apr 04 11 02 09 30 06 27 04 25 01 22 29 19 26 17 24 04 14 21 02 12 19

Apr Apr May May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec

17 24 15 22 12 19 10 17 07 14 04 11 02 09 30 06 17 27 04 15 25 01

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Jan

02 09 20 30 06 17 27 05 16 26

Jan Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

15 22 02 12 19 01 11 18 29 08

Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr

2016

G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G

G

Ex. Cairns AAISCS Start Finish 2015 11 Feb 24 Feb 21 Feb 06 Mar 28 Feb 13 Mar 11 Mar 24 Mar 21 Mar 03 Apr 28 Mar 10 Apr 18 25 16 23 13 20 11 18 08 15 05 12 03 10 31 07 18 28 05 16 26

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec

01 08 29 05 26 03 24 31 21 28 18 25 16 23 13 20 01 11 18 29 08

May May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Jan

06 16 23 03 13 20 02 12 19

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

19 29 05 16 26 04 15 25 01

Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

2016

G

G G G G G G G G

G G G G

G

G

G

G

TRIP PRICE OF $2550

TRIP PRICE OF $2599

TRIP PRICE OF $2895

TRIP PRICE OF $2955

TRIP PRICE OF $2995 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

14 DAYS FROM

2550

$

PER PERSON

St

CAIRNS

$1 artin 82 g f /d rom ay

SYDNEY

Australia

14 DAY Island Suntanner

38 Australia

12 DAY East Coast Cruisin’ SYDNEY

THE WHITSUNDAYS

11

BREAKFASTS

4

LUNCHES

6

DINNERS

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR AIRLIE BEACH

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via Hunter Valley). Let the wave chasing begin. But first, a stop for stomping and swilling amongst the vines. (D)

DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + + + + +

Wine tasting experience in the Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station + Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands + Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach + 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort

More inclusions + 11 breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), 6 dinners (D) + 10 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver TRIP PRICE OF $2375

TRIP PRICE OF $2390

TRIP PRICE OF $2655

TRIP PRICE OF $2695

TRIP PRICE OF $2745

DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Have a private surf lesson then cruise into Byron—where you can burn incense, sip chai and become a yoga teacher all in one day. (B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. A visit to Byron isn’t complete without a hike up to the lighthouse. Keep your eyes on the ocean to spot whales breaching in winter. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Think: Palm trees lining the highways and nightlife that will keep your dancing legs toned for days. Welcome to the GC. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Don’t leave ‘Brissy’ without a ride on the London Eye Brisbane Wheel to appreciate the river city from above. (B,D) DAY 6 Fraser Island. The Indigenous people call it K’gari. We call it paradise. A 4WD tour of the rainforests and freshwater lakes will show you why.

(B,L) DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. Spend the evening in a home among the gum trees with a goat rodeo, billy tea and bucking mechanical bull. (B,D) DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Spring out of your bush cabin with some horse riding or quad biking before we journey back to the coast. (B,L,D)

12 DAYS FROM

DAY 9 Emu Park to the Whitsundays (sailing).

Leave your Jag with the valet, turn your smartwatch on silent and allow us to introduce you to your private yacht for the night. #FOMO. (B,D)

PER PERSON

DAY 10 Long Island Resort, Whitehaven Beach.

Get the bucket list out and start ticking as we sail away. Walk on some of the purest sand in the world and swim in water that looks like...Google it. (B,L,D)

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

2375

$

DAY 11 Long Island Resort. How to spend a day in paradise? Sipping a Cosmo by the pool? Pretending you’re a mermaid? #firstworldproblems. (B)

$1

om fr y g da tin ar 8/ St 9

DAY 12 The Whitsundays. Keep the party going as we hit the godfather of Aussie backpacker towns. (B) This trip is a section of the 14 Day Island Suntanner trip.

See full trip on p.37.

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAISSQ/AAISQS Ex. Sydney AAISSQ Start Finish 2015 02 Jan 13 Jan 10 Jan 21 Jan 17 Jan 28 Jan 28 Jan 08 Feb 07 Feb 18 Feb 14 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 08 Mar 07 Mar 18 Mar 14 Mar 25 Mar 25 Mar 05 Apr 04 Apr 15 Apr 11 Apr 22 Apr 02 May 13 May 09 May 20 May 30 May 10 Jun 06 Jun 17 Jun 27 Jun 08 Jul 04 Jul 15 Jul 25 Jul 05 Aug 01 Aug 12 Aug 22 Aug 02 Sep 29 Aug 09 Sep 19 Sep 30 Sep 26 Sep 07 Oct 17 Oct 28 Oct 24 Oct 04 Nov 04 Nov 15 Nov 14 Nov 25 Nov 21 Nov 02 Dec 02 Dec 13 Dec 12 Dec 23 Dec 19 Dec 30 Dec 2016 02 Jan 13 Jan 09 Jan 20 Jan 20 Jan 31 Jan 30 Jan 10 Feb 06 Feb 17 Feb 17 Feb 28 Feb 27 Feb 09 Mar 05 Mar 16 Mar 16 Mar 27 Mar 26 Mar 06 Apr

G G G G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G

G

USD

Ex. Airlie AAISQS Start Finish 2015 05 Jan 16 Jan 16 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 06 Feb 02 Feb 13 Feb 13 Feb 24 Feb 23 Feb 06 Mar 02 Mar 13 Mar 13 Mar 24 Mar 23 Mar 03 Apr 30 Mar 10 Apr 20 Apr 01 May 27 Apr 08 May 18 May 29 May 25 May 05 Jun 15 Jun 26 Jun 22 Jun 03 Jul 13 Jul 24 Jul 20 Jul 31 Jul 10 Aug 21 Aug 17 Aug 28 Aug 07 Sep 18 Sep 14 Sep 25 Sep 05 Oct 16 Oct 12 Oct 23 Oct 02 Nov 13 Nov 09 Nov 20 Nov 20 Nov 01 Dec 30 Nov 11 Dec 07 Dec 18 Dec 18 Dec 29 Dec 28 Dec 08 Jan 2015 08 Jan 19 Jan 18 Jan 29 Jan 25 Jan 05 Feb 05 Feb 16 Feb 15 Feb 26 Feb 22 Feb 04 Mar 04 Mar 15 Mar 14 Mar 25 Mar 21 Mar 01 Apr

G

Ex. Sydney AAISSQ Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 10.00am Club Croc Resort Airlie Beach Ex. Airlie AAISQS Start 3.30pm Club Croc Resort Airlie Beach Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney

G G G

G G G G G G G G G G

G G G G

G

G

G

39

GOLD COAST

CAIRNS

10

BREAKFASTS

3

LUNCHES

6

DINNERS

Australia

11 DAY Reef Suntanner COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY GOLD COAST OR CAIRNS

G G G G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G

G

USD

Ex. Cairns AAISCG Start Finish 2015 03 Jan 13 Jan 14 Jan 24 Jan 24 Jan 03 Feb 31 Jan 10 Feb 11 Feb 21 Feb 21 Feb 03 Mar 28 Feb 10 Mar 11 Mar 21 Mar 21 Mar 31 Mar 28 Mar 07 Apr 18 Apr 28 Apr 25 Apr 5 May 16 May 26 May 23 May 2 Jun 13 Jun 23 Jun 20 Jun 30 Jun 11 Jul 21 Jul 18 Jul 28 Jul 8 Aug 18 Aug 15 Aug 25 Aug 5 Sep 15 Sep 12 Sep 22 Sep 3 Oct 13 Oct 10 Oct 20 Oct 31 Oct 10 Nov 7 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 28 Nov 28 Nov 8 Dec 5 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 26 Dec 26 Dec 5 Jan 2016 6 Jan 16 Jan 16 Jan 26 Jan 23 Jan 2 Feb 3 Feb 13 Feb 13 Feb 23 Feb 20 Feb 1 Mar 2 Mar 12 Mar 12 Mar 22 Mar 19 Mar 29 Mar

G

Ex. Gold Coast AAISGC Start 12.00pm Vibe Hotel Surfers Paradise Finish 5.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Ex. Cairns AAISCG Start 2.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Finish 10.00am Vibe Hotel Surfers Paradise

G G G

G G G G G G G G G

G G G G

G

G

G

DAY 2 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Next stop: BrisVegas (aka Brisbane). Then back on the frog and toad and ferry across to Fraser. (B,D) DAY 3 Fraser Island. There’s more to do on the world’s biggest sand island than building sandcastles.

4WD along 75 Mile Beach (a bona fide sand highway), SUP on Lake McKenzie and keep an eye out for dingoes. (B,L) DAY 4 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. Get your boots dirty as we take on a goat rodeo and lend a hand at a working cattle station. (B,D) Day 5: Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Pick your stead of choice, whether horseback or quad bike, and unleash your inner cowboy this morning. (B,L,D)

DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience + Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station + Overnight sailing in the Whitsundays + Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach + 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort

More inclusions + 10 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 6 dinners (D) + 9 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver

Day 6: Emu Park to Whitsundays (Sailing). If the words jib, tack and boom mean nothing to you, by the end of the day you’ll speak pirate better than Jack Sparrow. From Airlie Beach, put on your deck shoes as we set sail on a private yacht. (B,D) Day 7: Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

The crystal clear water and white silica sand of Whitehaven Beach make this one of the most popular places in Australia for blokes to pop the question. Today you’ll know why. (B,L,D) Day 8: Long Island Resort. Relax under the shade of a coconut palm, wet a line or kick it Kardashian-style with a cocktail by the pool. This is life. (B)

TRIP PRICE OF $2110

TRIP PRICE OF $2135

TRIP PRICE OF $2295

TRIP PRICE OF $2325

TRIP PRICE OF $2365 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

11 DAYS FROM

2110

$

PER PERSON

Day 9: The Whitsundays to Cairns. Point your compass north as we roll on to Queensland’s tropical capital. (B) Day 10 & 11: Cairns. Paddle the rapids of the Tully River, zip line over a crocodile or check out the Great Barrier Reef. And that’s just the beginning. (Bx2,Dx1) This trip is a section of the 14 Day Island Suntanner trip.

See full trip on p.37.

St

TRIP CODE: AAISGC/AAISCG Ex. Gold Coast AAISGC Start Finish 2015 05 Jan 15 Jan 13 Jan 23 Jan 20 Jan 30 Jan 31 Jan 10 Feb 10 Feb 20 Feb 17 Feb 27 Feb 28 Feb 10 Mar 10 Mar 20 Mar 17 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 07 Apr 7 Apr 17 Apr 14 Apr 24 Apr 5 May 15 May 12 May 22 May 2 Jun 12 Jun 9 Jun 19 Jun 30 Jun 10 Jul 7 Jul 17 Jul 28 Jul 7 Aug 4 Aug 14 Aug 25 Aug 4 Sep 1 Sep 11 Sep 22 Sep 2 Oct 29 Sep 9 Oct 20 Oct 30 Oct 27 Oct 6 Nov 7 Nov 17 Nov 17 Nov 27 Nov 24 Nov 4 Dec 5 Dec 15 Dec 15 Dec 25 Dec 22 Dec 1 Jan 2016 5 Jan 15 Jan 12 Jan 22 Jan 23 Jan 2 Feb 2 Feb 12 Feb 9 Feb 19 Feb 20 Feb 1 Mar 1 Mar 11 Mar 8 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 29 Mar 29 Mar 8 Apr

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

$1 artin 92 g f /d rom ay

Dates & Prices 2015-16

DAY 1 Gold Coast. All that glitters is the Gold Coast— a city that’s as much about beaches and theme parks as it is bars and bronzed bods. Catch some rays in Surfers Paradise, before hitting Cavill Ave—the GC equivalent of The Strip.

40 Australia

10 DAY Tropical Adventure BRISBANE

CAIRNS

9

BREAKFASTS

3

LUNCHES

6

DINNERS

COACH WI-FI

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY BRISBANE OR CAIRNS

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience + Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station + Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands + Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach + 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort

More inclusions + 9 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 6 dinners (D) + 8 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip leader + Driver TRIP PRICE OF $2025 TRIP PRICE OF $2155

TRIP PRICE OF $2060 TRIP PRICE OF $2195

TRIP PRICE OF $2225 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

10 DAYS FROM

2025

$

PER PERSON

DAY 1 Brisbane to Fraser Island. Crossing the Great Sandy Strait by ferry, we’re watching the sun dip behind the Great Dividing Range as we settle into our eco lodges. The infamous Dingo Bar might see you cutting shapes on the D-floor. (D) DAY 2 Fraser Island. Dingoes, dunes and rainforests, oh my! People rave about this place for a reason. Get your balance back with a stand-up paddle boarding session on Lake McKenzie, go shipwreck spotting on 75 Mile Beach and float down Eli Creek. (B,L) DAY 3 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. With bush tucker, a mechanical bull and goat rodeo, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in an outback reality show on this 10,000-acre cattle station. (B,D) DAY 4 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Get all the cowboy out of your system this morning with horse riding, quad biking or trap shooting, then crack a cold one before we roll on to Emu Park. (B,L,D) DAY 5 Emu Park to the Whitsundays (Sailing).

We’re blingin’ our way around the Whitsundays on our own private yacht. Don your captain’s hat and ensure it’s all plain sailing or embrace your inner Kardashian and relax on deck. (B,D) DAY 6 Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

Let’s make this as crystal clear as the water – Whitehaven Beach is breathtaking. Not only does silica white sand stretch for over seven kilometres, it’s literally the most photographed beach in Oz. (B,L,D) DAY 7 Long Island Resort. Did someone say buffet breakfast? (Over) indulge, recharge and relax with water sports, lazy hammock time and fish feeding right off the jetty. You’re on island time. (B) DAY 8 The Whitsundays to Cairns. From crocodile skins to glass-blowing artists, the night markets will keep you entertained. Still got your sea legs? Head to the guaranteed croc-free lagoon at the Esplanade to decompress. (B)

$2

om fr ay g tin /d ar St 03

DAY 9 & 10 Cairns. With more adventure activities than Bear Grylls could handle in two days, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Cuddle a koala or explore the reef? Your call. (Bx2,B) This trip is a section of the 14 Day Island Suntanner trip.

See p.37 for more details.

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAISBC/AAISCB Ex. Brisbane AAISBC Start Finish 2015 06 Jan 15 Jan 14 Jan 23 Jan 21 Jan 30 Jan 01 Feb 10 Feb 11 Feb 20 Feb 18 Feb 27 Feb 01 Mar 10 Mar 11 Mar 20 Mar 18 Mar 27 Mar 29 Mar 07 Apr 08 Apr 17 Apr 15 Apr 24 Apr 06 May 15 May 13 May 22 May 03 Jun 12 Jun 10 Jun 19 Jun 01 Jul 10 Jul 08 Jul 17 Jul 29 Jul 07 Aug 05 Aug 14 Aug 26 Aug 04 Sep 02 Sep 11 Sep 23 Sep 02 Oct 30 Sep 09 Oct 21 Oct 30 Oct 28 Oct 06 Nov 08 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 27 Nov 25 Nov 04 Dec 06 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 25 Dec 23 Dec 01 Jan 2016 06 Jan 15 Jan 13 Jan 22 Jan 24 Jan 02 Feb 03 Feb 12 Feb 10 Feb 19 Feb 21 Feb 01 Mar 02 Mar 11 Mar 09 Mar 18 Mar 20 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 08 Apr

G G G G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G

G

USD

Ex. Cairns AAISCB Start Finish 2015 03 Jan 12 Jan 14 Jan 23 Jan 24 Jan 02 Feb 31 Jan 09 Feb 11 Feb 20 Feb 21 Feb 02 Mar 28 Feb 09 Mar 11 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 30 Mar 28 Mar 06 Apr 18 Apr 27 Apr 25 Apr 04 May 16 May 25 May 23 May 01 Jun 13 Jun 22 Jun 20 Jun 29 Jun 11 Jul 20 Jul 18 Jul 27 Jul 08 Aug 17 Aug 15 Aug 24 Aug 05 Sep 14 Sep 12 Sep 21 Sep 03 Oct 12 Oct 10 Oct 19 Oct 31 Oct 09 Nov 07 Nov 16 Nov 18 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 07 Dec 05 Dec 14 Dec 16 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 04 Jan 2016 06 Jan 15 Jan 16 Jan 25 Jan 23 Jan 01 Feb 03 Feb 12 Feb 13 Feb 22 Feb 20 Feb 29 Feb 02 Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 21 Mar 19 Mar 28 Mar

G

Ex. Brisbane AAISBC Start 1.00pm Base Palace Hostel Brisbane Finish 5.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Ex. Cairns AAISCB Start 2.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Finish 3.00pm Base Palace Hostel Brisbane

G G G

G G G G G G G G G

G G G G

G

G

G

41

THE WHITSUNDAYS

CAIRNS

5

BREAKFASTS

1

LUNCH

3

DINNERS

DAY 1 The Whitsundays (Sailing). Climb on a yacht and sail through the Whitsundays like a baws. BYO bling. (D)

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY THE WHITSUNDAYS OR CAIRNS

DAY 2 Whitehaven Beach. Snap a #whitesandselfie and set your watch to island time. (B,L,D) DAY 3 Long Island Resort. Hike the rainforest, SUP, then make a date with a hammock. (B) DAY 4 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Drop anchor in Cairns for two nights of getting down with your tropical self. (B) DAY 5 & 6 Cairns. Hang with the turtles on the Great Barrier Reef or welcome the day in a hot air balloon.

You call the shots here. (B,D) (B) TRIP PRICE OF $1115

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

TRIP PRICE OF $1195

TRIP PRICE OF $1245

On the bucket list (included)

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

+ Overnight sailing in the Whitsundays + Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach + 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort

$

6 DAYS FROM

1115

PER PERSON

More inclusions + 5 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 3 dinners (D) + 4 nights in hotel & lodges, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi + Awesome Trip Leader + Driver

COACH WI-FI

Dates & Prices 2015-16

Starting from $186/day

USD

TRIP CODE: AAISWC/AAISCW Ex. Airlie AAISWC Start Finish 2015 10 18 25 05 15 22 05 15 22 02 12 19 10 17 07 14 05 12 02 09 30 06 27 04 25 01 12 22 29 10 20 27

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec

15 23 30 10 20 27 10 20 27 07 17 24 15 22 12 19 10 17 07 14 04 11 02 09 30 06 17 27 04 15 25 01

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Jan

10 17 28 07 14 25 06 13 24 03

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

15 22 02 12 19 01 11 18 29 08

Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr

2016

Ex. Airlie AAISWC Start 3.30pm Club Croc Resort Airlie Beach Finish 5.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Ex. Cairns AAISCW Start 2.00pm Hides Hotel Cairns Finish 10.00am Club Croc Resort Airlie Beach

Australia

6 DAY Tropical Suntanner

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Ex. Cairns AAISCW Start Finish 2015 03 14 24 31 11 21 28 11 21 28

18 25 16 23 13 20 11 18 08 15 05 12 03 10 31 07 18 28 05 16 26 2016 06 16 23 03 13 20 02 12 19

Jan Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

08 19 29 05 16 26 05 16 26 02

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec

23 30 21 28 18 25 16 23 13 20 10 17 08 15 05 12 23 03 10 21 31

Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

11 21 28 08 18 25 07 17 24

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

G G G G

G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G G

G

5 DAY Ultimate Surfari SYDNEY

4

BRISBANE

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR BRISBANE

BREAKFASTS

1

LUNCH

1

DINNER

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via the Hunter Valley). Pressing grapes by foot then bunker down at a legendary point break (Bodhi would go). (D) DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Get another surf lesson in before we follow the sun north. (B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. This is where peace and tranquillity go to relax. You should too. Or jump out of a plane. Byron doesn’t care as long as you’re happy. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Off to Surfers Paradise where night here has a sneaky way of becoming morning. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Brisbane. Brisbane has a beach in the centre of the city. Well played. (B)

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

TRIP PRICE OF $805

DAY STOP

TRIP PRICE OF $925

On the bucket list (included) + Wine tasting experience in the Hunter Valley + Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat + Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP

More inclusions + + + +

4 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 1 dinner (D) 4 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi Awesome Trip Leader + Driver

TRIP PRICE OF $820 TRIP PRICE OF $945

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

5 DAYS FROM

805

$

PER PERSON

Ex. Sydney AAISSB Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 1.00pm Base Palace Hostel Brisbane Ex. Brisbane AAISBS Start 3.00pm Base Palace Hostel Brisbane Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney Starting from $161/day

COACH WI-FI

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAISSB/AAISBS Ex. Sydney AAISSB Start Finish 2015 02 Jan 06 Jan 10 Jan 14 Jan 17 Jan 21 Jan 28 Jan 01 Feb 07 Feb 11 Feb 14 Feb 18 Feb 25 Feb 01 Mar 07 Mar 11 Mar 14 Mar 18 Mar 25 Mar 29 Mar 04 Apr 08 Apr 11 Apr 15 Apr 02 May 06 May 09 May 13 May 30 May 03 Jun 06 Jun 10 Jun 27 Jun 01 Jul 04 Jul 08 Jul 25 Jul 29 Jul 01 Aug 05 Aug 22 Aug 26 Aug 29 Aug 02 Sep 19 Sep 23 Sep 26 Sep 30 Sep 17 Oct 21 Oct 24 Oct 28 Oct 04 Nov 08 Nov 14 Nov 18 Nov 21 Nov 25 Nov 02 Dec 06 Dec 12 Dec 16 Dec 19 Dec 23 Dec 2016 02 Jan 06 Jan 09 Jan 13 Jan 20 Jan 24 Jan 30 Jan 03 Feb 06 Feb 10 Feb 17 Feb 21 Feb 27 Feb 02 Mar 05 Mar 09 Mar 16 Mar 20 Mar 26 Mar 30 Mar

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Ex. Brisbane AAISBS Start Finish 2015 05 Jan 09 Jan 12 Jan 16 Jan 23 Jan 27 Jan 02 Feb 06 Feb 09 Feb 13 Feb 20 Feb 24 Feb 02 Mar 06 Mar 09 Mar 13 Mar 20 Mar 24 Mar 30 Mar 03 Apr 06 Apr 10 Apr 27 Apr 01 May 04 May 08 May 25 May 29 May 01 Jun 05 Jun 22 Jun 26 Jun 29 Jun 03 Jul 20 Jul 24 Jul 27 Jul 31 Jul 17 Aug 21 Aug 24 Aug 28 Aug 14 Sep 18 Sep 21 Sep 25 Sep 12 Oct 16 Oct 19 Oct 23 Oct 09 Nov 13 Nov 16 Nov 20 Nov 27 Nov 01 Dec 07 Dec 11 Dec 14 Dec 18 Dec 25 Dec 29 Dec 2016 04 Jan 08 Jan 15 Jan 19 Jan 25 Jan 29 Jan 01 Feb 05 Feb 12 Feb 16 Feb 22 Feb 26 Feb 29 Feb 04 Mar 11 Mar 15 Mar 21 Mar 25 Mar 28 Mar 01 Apr

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

SADDLE UP Ever wanted to experience life on a cattle station? Saddle up for a taste of the real Australia in the remote outback grasslands of Biloela and learn the art of whip cracking, goat mustering and working the lasso.

As the sun sets, prepare for an outback feast of camp oven damper and farm-grown produce, take on the mechanical bull and play connectthe-dots under the star-lit sky before tucking in for the night.

WHAT TO DO +

Horse riding

+

Goat mustering and rodeo

+

Quadbiking

+

Bush volleyball

+

Trap shooting

Ultimate Aussie

33

East Coast Cruisin’

38

Beach & Bush

47

45

DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Wax on for this morning’s surf lesson and work up a surfer’s appetite for our BBQ lunch (great excuse for extra snags).

(B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. The ‘Welcome to Byron Bay’ sign says it all: “Cheer up. Slow down. Chill out”. You’ve got 24 hours to find inner peace. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Take a peek at Natural Bridge before hitting the theme park capital of Australia. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Say g’day to Brisbane as we make a stop on our pilgrimage to spot the purest breed of dingoes remaining on the planet. (B,D) DAY 6 Fraser Island. Rainforests sprouting from sand. A decaying shipwreck. Sharks riding waves.

Fraser is more rugged than Russell Crowe and you’ll see it all on our 4WD tour. (B,L) DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. If you haven’t spotted a kangaroo yet, now’s your chance as we saddle up for a stay at a working cattle station.

(B,D) DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Live the life of a stockman and throw your leg over a horse or quad bike, or test out your trap shooting skills. (B,L,D) DAY 9 Emu Park to the Whitsundays (Sailing). Kick back and watch the Milky Way, straight flowin’ on a boat on the deep blue sea. You have arrived. (B,D) DAY 10 Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

Pop on your captain’s hat, like a boss. Anchor off Whitehaven, snorkel Blue Pearl Bay... just get ‘er to Long Island by sundown. (B,L,D) DAY 11 Long Island Resort*. You + one full day on a tropical island = shibby! Beach it. Water sport it. Or kick it in a hammock, cocktail in hand. (B) DAY 12 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Hop aboard our land yacht – Cairns and an obscene amount of coconut trees await. Head to the night markets… or straight to the Woolshed. (B) DAY 13, 14 & 15 Cairns. Well, hellooo three days in Cairns! Head straight to the Great Barrier Reef – do not pass Go – on a day trip to snorkel or dive with your Nemo bucket list. Gorge yourself on adventure with options of jungle surfing, skydiving, bungee, hot air ballooning, horse riding, white-water rafting.

Cairns is basically a mini tropical Vegas, but with only one casino. (Bx3, Dx1)

26

BREAKFASTS

6

LUNCHES

12

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Wine tasting in the stunning Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon Canoe in the Katherine Gorge East Alligator River cruise in Kakadu Aboriginal guide and entry into Arnhemland Visit Aboriginal rock art sites in Kakadu NP Swim in the fresh waters of Litchfield NP

More inclusions + 26 breakfasts (B), 6 lunches (L), 12 dinners (D) + 24 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night in a swag, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicles + Awesome Driver/Guide DAY 21 Alice Springs. A lazy day by the pool is in order. Bored? High-five Chris ‘Brolga’ Barnes aka Kangaroo Dundee or learn Aboriginal bush remedies in the Desert Park Gardens. (B) DAY 22 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek. Australia loves big things – Big Banana, Big Pineapple, Big Cow. Some of the granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) are up to 7m in diameter. The cow can bring it. (B,D) DAY 23 Tennant Creek to Katherine. You’re in the real Never Never now. Still, you’ll be living the highlife with a pub lunch and thermal springs soak. (B,D) DAY 24 Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls. Katherine is HUGE. From east to west it touches the Queensland and West Australian borders. Today you get to experience the VIP section. (B)

DAY 16 Cairns to Alice Springs. Take to the skies and meet up with your NT crew in Alice Springs. (B) DAY 17 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Did you know Uluru is actually a rusty 600-million-year old hunk o’ earth that would be grey if not for its iron content? At sunset it looks all kinds of awesome.

(B,D)

DAY 27 Kakadu to Darwin (Litchfield National Park). Giant mounds built by climate-controlling termites (aligned north to south to keep ‘em cool) and waterfalls await at our last stop at Litchfield National Park. (B,L)

DAY 19 Uluru To Kings Canyon. The Pitjantjatjara name Kata-Tjuta means ‘many heads’... you’ll see why on today’s hike. Sleep under a sky that shines bright like a diamond. (B,D) DAY 20 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. Discover 50 shades of red sandstone as we flirt with the edge of Kings Canyon and reach the Garden of Eden. (B,L)

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR DARWIN

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16

This trip is made up of the 14 Day Island Suntanner and 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Top trips. See p.37 and p.51 for more details.

Ex. Sydney AAGASD Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 6.00pm Mitchell Street Darwin Ex. Darwin AAGADS Start 7.00am Melaleuea on Mitchell Darwin Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney

USD

TRIP CODE: AAGASD/AAGADS Ex. Sydney AAGASD 27 DAYS Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 05 Feb 17 Jan 12 Feb 07 Feb 05 Mar 07 Mar 02 Apr 04 Apr 30 Apr 02 May 28 May 30 May 25 Jun 27 Jun 23 Jul 04 Jul 30 Jul 25 Jul 20 Aug 22 Aug 17 Sep 19 Sep 15 Oct 26 Sep 22 Oct 17 Oct 12 Nov 14 Nov 10 Dec 12 Dec 07 Jan 2016 02 Jan 28 Jan 09 Jan 04 Feb 06 Feb 03 Mar 05 Mar 31 Mar

DAY 25 Katherine to Kakadu National Park. Get Territory tough with a hike up Gunlom Falls with views over this Great Southern Land, then fly over the monolithic Arnhem Land Escarpment. (B,D) DAY 26 Kakadu National Park. Visit the open-air Australian Louvre of Nourlangie Rock – home to famous Indigenous art works. (No snooty art critic act required here.) Then, croc spotting and a lesson on 20,000 years of culture. (B)

DAY 18 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). Salute the sun at Uluru, release your inner artist with a dot painting class then test your star-trail photography skills. (B)

DINNERS

G G G G G G G G G G G

G G G

Ex. Darwin AAGADS 26 DAYS Start Finish 2015 12 Jan 06 Feb 09 Feb 06 Mar 09 Mar 03 Apr 06 Apr 01 May 04 May 29 May 01 Jun 26 Jun 29 Jun 24 Jul 27 Jul 21 Aug 03 Aug 28 Aug 24 Aug 18 Sep 21 Sep 16 Oct 19 Oct 13 Nov 26 Oct 20 Nov 16 Nov 11 Dec 04 Dec 29 Dec 14 Dec 08 Jan 2016 11 Jan 05 Feb 01 Feb 26 Feb 08 Feb 04 Mar 07 Mar 01 Apr

TRIP PRICE OF $4280

TRIP PRICE OF $4315

TRIP PRICE OF $4695

TRIP PRICE OF $4765

TRIP PRICE OF $4795

TRIP PRICE OF $4835

G

G G,C G,CA G G,C CA G,C G,CA G,C CA G,CA G,C G,C C G,CA G

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE C = THIS TRIP CAN CONTINUE TO CHRISTCHURCH INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN EXPLORER A = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO AUCKLAND (CONTACT US FOR PRICES)

26 DAYS FROM

4280

$

PER PERSON

The Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine and Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks) have an annual wet season that typically operates between November and April. During the wet season it is necessary to change our dry season itinerary and substitute some attractions, particularly in Kakadu National Park. Please refer to our website www.topdeck.travel for our wet season itinerary.

PLEASE NOTE - FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE

St

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via Hunter Valley). Get your (grape) stomp on, enjoy a wine tasting, then settle into our surf camp for live tunes.

(D)

DARWIN

$1 artin 65 g f /d rom ay

SYDNEY

Australia

26/27 DAY Grand Aussie

47

DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Give your best Kelly Slater impression during this morning’s surf lesson. Cruise through Coffs Harbour to meet your spirit animal in Byron Bay. (B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. Your perfect Byron day? Sunrise at the lighthouse, surfing, skydiving, then sipping on a Stone & Wood beer at the Beach Hotel. Or are you more yoga, green smoothie, drum circle, repeat? (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Bin your bananas, we’re crossing the border. Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park will wash away your tears for Byron. Tonight we party in Surfers Paradise. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Have a quickie (visit) in Brisbane before we hit the highway and arrive on Fraser Island (aka paradise) in time for sunset. (B,D)

19

BREAKFASTS

5

LUNCHES

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + + + +

Wine tasting experience in the Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon

the Dreamtime with a dot painting class, art markets and cultural dance performance. (B)

DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. Swap flip flops for cowboy boots and experience life on a 10,000 acre cattle station. The goat rodeo is just a preview of what’s to come. Mechanical bull, anyone?

(B,D)

DAY 19 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Coolio might’ve walked through the “valley of the shadow of death”, but today we’re walking through the Valley of the Winds on route to Kata Tjuta – 36 epic sandstone domes in the middle of the desert. (B,D)

DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Get more bang for your country buck with horse riding, quad biking or trap shooting before we gravitate back to the coast via Rockhampton and hit the beach. No bull.

(B,L,D)

DAY 20 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. Standing on solid rock, sacred ground, the Rim Walk around Kings Canyon will change your life. You’re now a dead set bloody legend! (B,L)

DAY 10 Long Island Resort. Set the compass to Whitehaven Beach. Be ruined for other beaches for life. Snorkel. Swim. Soak up the sun, then help steer the way to Long Island. (B,L,D) DAY 11 Long Island Resort. Red pill: Zumba, water sports and mini golf. Blue pill: Hammock nap and sunset cocktails. Keanu never had it so tough. (B) DAY 12 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Don’t cry over white sand – Cairns awaits! Balance the number of sweat beads rolling down your back with restaurant, bar and club choices. (B) DAY 13, 14 & 15 Cairns. When locals include giant birds ready to headbutt you and snakes that swallow crocs, the best way to deal is jump – hurl yourself from great heights with a bungy cord, zipline through the Daintree, skydive over the Great Barrier Reef or wake up at an obscene hour to go hot air ballooning.

If you only do one thing, join our optional day trip to snorkel, dive and cruise the EAC with sea turtles, dude. (Bx3, Dx1) DAY 16 Transit day Cairns to Alice Springs. Fly from Cairns to Alice Springs. Realise you’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. (B) DAY 17 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). What you gonna do with all those humps? Visit an outback camel farm before we arrive at the biggest hump of all: Uluru. Guided walk, sunset and champagne?

Bloody beautiful, mate. (B,D) DAY 18 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). Head back to Uluru at sunrise and loop the base or opt for a Harley ride or scenic flight. Embrace

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR ALICE SPRINGS

More inclusions + 19 breakfasts (B), 5 lunches (L), 9 dinners (D) + 17 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night in a swag, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicles + Awesome Driver/Guide

DAY 6 Fraser Island. Explore the world’s largest sand island by 4WD. Think: 75-Mile Beach, Maheno Shipwreck, floating down Eli Creek and SUP on Lake McKenzie. Consider staying forever. Remember dingoes. (B,L)

DAY 9 Emu Park to The Whitsundays. Step aboard your private yacht, hoist the sails and kick back on deck while your chef prepares dinner. B and Jay Z, who? This is how we roll. (B,D)

9

This trip is made up of the 14 Day Island Suntanner and 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Canyon trips. See p.37 and p.53 for more details.

Ex. Melborune AAGASU Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 6.00pm Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Ex. Darwin AAGAUS Start 7.00am Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney Don't forget to pre-book your Great Barrier Reef day-trip upgrade to secure a spot on the boat.

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: AAGASU/AAGAUS Ex. Sydney AAGASU 20 DAYS Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 29 Jan 17 Jan 05 Feb 07 Feb 26 Feb 14 Feb 05 Mar 07 Mar 26 Mar 14 Mar 02 Apr 04

Apr

23

11

Apr

30 Apr

Apr May

G

Ex. Alice Springs AAGAUS 19 DAYS Start Finish 2015 19 Jan 06 Feb G 26 Jan 13 Feb 16 Feb 06 Mar 23 Feb 13 Mar 16 Mar 03 Apr 23 Mar 10 Apr

G,D

13

Apr

01

M

20

Apr

08 May

May

G,

G,D

11

May

29 May

G,C

M

18

May

05

Jun

CA

G,D

08

Jun

26

Jun G,CA

02

May

21

09

May

28 May

30

May

18

Jun

06

Jun

25

Jun

M

15

Jun

03

Jul

C

27

Jun

16

Jul

G,D

06

Jul

24

Jul

G,

04

Jul

23

Jul

M

25

Jul

13

Aug G,DM

01

Aug

20 Aug

22

Aug

10

Sep

29

Aug

17

Sep

19

Sep

08 Oct

26

Sep

15

17

Oct

05 Nov G,DM

13

Jul

31

Jul

C

03

Aug

21

Aug

G,C

M

10

Aug

28 Aug

CA

G,D

31

Aug

18

Sep

G,C CA

M

07

Sep

25

Sep

G,D

28

Sep

16

Oct G,CA

M

05

Oct

23

Oct

C

26

Oct

13

Nov

G,C CA

Oct

24

Oct

12

Nov

G,M

02

Nov

20 Nov

14

Nov

03 Dec

G,D

23

Nov

11

Dec G,CA

21

Nov

10

Dec

M

30

Nov

18

Dec

12

Dec

31

Dec

G,D

11

Dec

29 Dec

21

Dec

08

Jan

G,C

02

Jan

21

Jan

G,D

2016

09

Jan

28

Jan

G,D

G,C

30

Jan

18

Feb

06

Feb

25

Feb

27

Feb

17

Mar

05

Mar

24

Mar

2016

G,D

G,C

18

Jan

05 Feb

08

Feb

26

15

Feb

04 Mar G,CA

14

Mar

01

Feb Apr

C G,

G,D

TRIP PRICE OF $3065

TRIP PRICE OF $3135

TRIP PRICE OF $3395

TRIP PRICE OF $3475

TRIP PRICE OF $3495

TRIP PRICE OF $3535

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE C = THIS TRIP CAN CONTINUE TO CHRISTCHURCH A = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO AUCKLAND (CONTACT US FOR PRICES) D = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO DARWIN M = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO MELBOURNE

19 DAYS FROM

3065

$

PER PERSON

FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE

St

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head. Stomping, swilling, and sipping the Hunter Valley’s finest drops. And a bus nap, waking up to a surf camp. Yeah, sucks to be you. (D)

ALICE SPRINGS

$1 artin 61 g f /d rom ay

SYDNEY

Australia

19/20 DAY Beach & Bush

THE ROCK Uluru is to Australia, what the Eiffel Tower is to the French. What this place lacks in coffee, croissants and modern amenities, it makes up for in cultural heritage and sheer, wild beauty. Watch the changing hues of red as the first streaks of daylight hit the rock and play connect-the-dots with the stars as you slip into the Dreamtime under the Milky Way.

BY THE NUMBERS Age: 600 million years.

First aboriginal settlement: 10,000 years ago.

Height: 348 metres.

Depth: 2.5 kilometres below ground.

Length: 3.6 kilometres.

Width: 1.9 kilometres

Rock 'N' Canyon

53

Down South & Outback

58

Outback Adventure

61

51

DAY 2 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas).

Want to join a dot painting art class at the Aboriginal Art markets but need some inspiration? Uluru at sunrise will do the trick! Rev it up a notch with a Harley ride or scenic flight, or stay grounded and walk around the base. Embrace the Dreamtime with an afternoon cultural dance performance. You might know the Nutbush, but your moves ain’t got nothing on this. (B) DAY 3 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Pack your hiking boots – we’re trekking through the Valley of the Winds and heading for Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas). Get down with your inner Bear Grylls as we roll across the desert plains and into Watarrka National Park.

Tonight, discover the outback luxury of an Aussie swag as we camp under the stars. Who says romance is dead? (B,D) DAY 4 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is the real deal. Think age-old cycads, eroded dome shapes, a visit to The Lost City – and that’s not even the best part. The sheltered valley and waterhole of the Garden of Eden makes today bloody bonza (translation: rad). (B,L) DAY 5 Alice Springs. Today = free day. Jump into the joey nursery at Kangaroo Dundee’s place (aka the man who should win ‘mother’ of the century for hand-rearing orphaned joeys) and hold a baby while you’re there. Be transported through time in a historic aircraft at the Royal Flying Doctor Museum or get lost in the mystery of the Australian outback (we’re not talking Wolf Creek, either) at Desert Park Gardens. (B) DAY 6 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek.

Technophiles beware! Think your old Nokia was out-dated? Wait till you see the Overland Telegraph line at the Barrow Creek Hotel! To round off the afternoon, we’ve got some pretty epic granite boulders for you at the sacred site of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). (B,D) DAY 7 Tennant Creek to Katherine. Soak up the steamy thermal springs of Mataranka, then for a fair dinkum experience, look no further than the Daly Waters Pub. Located ‘in the middle of somewhere’, this place was the site of Australia’s first international airport back when flights to London took eight days.

Strewth. When you’re done, take in a game of lawn bowls at the local Country Club and enjoy a good ol’ fashioned BBQ with the locals. (B,D) DAY 8 Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls. With cliffs plunging down to the pandanus-lined freshwater river, the Katherine Gorge is yours to explore from your very own canoe. Rather give the paddle the boot? Upgrade to a three-gorge cruise and watch everyone else do the hard work instead. Then we make our way to one of NT’s best picnic and swimming spots, Edith Falls. (B) DAY 9 Katherine to Kakadu National Park. Don’t go chasing waterfalls… Isn’t that how the song goes?

Well forget that! Soak up the best of Kakadu National Park with some waterfall chasing, a dip in the most idyllic natural pools and a scenic flight over the Escarpment. (B,D) DAY 10 Kakadu National Park. Spot a croc, hone your spear-throwing skills and get a lesson in history with our local Indigenous tour guide. With special permission from the local custodians, we’ll disembark on the river for a walk into Arnhem Land. We’re also checking out Nourlangie Rock for some Aboriginal

10

BREAKFASTS

2

LUNCHES

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + +

Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon Canoe in the Katherine Gorge East Alligator River cruise in Kakadu Aboriginal guide and entry into Arnhemland Visit Aboriginal rock art sites in Kakadu NP Swim in the fresh waters of Litchfield NP

5

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY ALICE SPRINGS OR DARWIN

More inclusions + 10 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L), 5 dinners (D) + 9 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night in a swag + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicle + Awesome Driver/Guide rock art that really emphasises the significance of this precious land. We’re makin’ memories, kids. (B)

DAY 11 Kakadu to Darwin (Litchfield National Park). Seen one waterfall, seen ‘em all? Well no, but you’d be forgiven for thinking that way by now.

Our trip ends at – you guessed it – the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park. Switch off and hit the water for one last swim. Go on, you deserve it. (B,L) Ex. Alice Springs AARTKD Start 7.00am Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Finish 6.00pm Mitchell Street Darwin Ex. Darwin AARTDK Start 7.00am Melaleuea on Mitchell Darwin Finish 6.00pm Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: AARTKD/AARTDK Ex. Alice Springs AARTKD Start Finish 2015 26 Jan 05 Feb G 23 Feb 05 Mar G 23 Mar 02 Apr 20 Apr 30 Apr G 18 May 28 May G 08 Jun 18 Jun 15 Jun 25 Jun G 13 Jul 23 Jul G 20 Jul 30 Jul 10 Aug 20 Aug G 31 Aug 10 Sep 07 Sep 17 Sep G 05 Oct 15 Oct G 12 Oct 22 Oct 02 Nov 12 Nov G 23 Nov 03 Dec 30 Nov 10 Dec G 28 Dec 07 Jan G 2016 18 Jan 28 Jan 25 Jan 04 Feb G 22 Feb 03 Mar G 21 Mar 31 Mar G

Ex. Darwin AARTDK Start Finish 2015 12 Jan 22 Jan 09 Feb 19 Feb 09 Mar 19 Mar 06 Apr 16 Apr 04 May 14 May 01 Jun 11 Jun 22 Jun 02 Jul 29 Jun 09 Jul 27 Jul 06 Aug 03 Aug 13 Aug 24 Aug 03 Sep 14 Sep 24 Sep 21 Sep 01 Oct 19 Oct 29 Oct 26 Oct 05 Nov 16 Nov 26 Nov 04 Dec 14 Dec 14 Dec 24 Dec 2016 11 Jan 21 Jan 01 Feb 11 Feb 08 Feb 18 Feb 07 Mar 17 Mar

TRIP PRICE OF $1780

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

TRIP PRICE OF $1995

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

11 DAYS FROM

1780

$

PER PERSON

The Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine and Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks) have an annual wet season that typically operates between November and April. During the wet season it is necessary to change our dry season itinerary and substitute some attractions, particularly in Kakadu National Park. Please refer to our website www.topdeck.travel for our wet season itinerary.

St

DAY 1 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). We’re hitting the red ground running with a visit to a camel farm and then onto lunch in Yulara (the gateway resort to Uluru). It’s off to Uluru in the afternoon for a guided tour, and a glass of bubbles as the glow of sunset takes hold. How’s the serenity? (D)

DARWIN

$1 artin 62 g f /d rom ay

ALICE SPRINGS

Australia

11 DAY Rock ‘N’ Top

52 Australia

6 DAY Didgeridoo Dreams ALICE SPRINGS

DARWIN

5

BREAKFASTS

1

LUNCHES

3

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY ALICE SPRINGS OR DARWIN

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AARTUD/AARTDU Ex. Alice Springs AARTUD Start Finish 2015 03 Jan 08 Jan 31 Jan 05 Feb 28 Feb 05 Mar G 28 Mar 02 Apr 25 Apr 30 Apr G 23 May 28 May G 13 Jun 18 Jun 20 Jun 25 Jun G 18 Jul 23 Jul G 25 Jul 30 Jul 15 Aug 20 Aug G 05 Sep 10 Sep 12 Sep 17 Sep G 10 Oct 15 Oct G 17 Oct 22 Oct 07 Nov 12 Nov G 28 Nov 03 Dec 05 Dec 10 Dec G 2016 02 Jan 07 Jan G 23 Jan 28 Jan 30 Jan 04 Feb G 27 Feb 03 Mar G 26 Mar 31 Mar G TRIP PRICE OF $1125 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

6 DAYS FROM

1125

$

PER PERSON

USD

Ex. Darwin AARTDU Start Finish 2015 12 Jan 17 Jan 09 Feb 14 Feb 09 Mar 14 Mar 06 Apr 11 Apr 04 May 09 May 01 Jun 06 Jun 22 Jun 27 Jun 29 Jun 04 Jul 27 Jul 01 Aug 03 Aug 08 Aug 24 Aug 29 Aug 14 Sep 19 Sep 21 Sep 26 Sep 19 Oct 24 Oct 26 Oct 31 Oct 16 Nov 21 Nov 04 Dec 09 Dec 14 Dec 19 Dec 2016 11 Jan 16 Jan 01 Feb 06 Feb 08 Feb 13 Feb 07 Mar 12 Mar

TRIP PRICE OF $1225

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

DAY 1 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek. Dust off the red Alice Springs dust... actually, never mind.

You’d better get used to that during your Top End adventure. First stop: Barrow Creek Pub. Text mum to let her know you’re heading off in Morse code like they did back when this place was a Telegraph Station. Hit up a classic Aussie Roadhouse before hiking through the sacred site of Karlu Karlu (Devil’s Marbles). (D) DAY 2 Tennant Creek to Katherine. Taking this trip is thirsty work, and you’ll soon be able to re-hydrate with an ice-cold beer at one of ‘Straya’s best-known watering holes, the Daly Waters Pub. Later, drift off into the Dreamtime in the steamy thermal springs of Mataranka in the heart of the Never Never. Never never thought you’d find this in the outback, hey?

(B,D) DAY 3 Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls. You’ve got a front row seat for the wicked wildlife and scenery while canoeing along the Katherine River – the Gorge is yours to explore. But if you’d rather not be up the creek with a paddle, take your trip next level by upgrading to a three-gorge cruise and venture even further into the wilderness. We’ll grab some lunch en route to the majestic Edith Falls – #nofilter necessary.

(B) DAY 4 Katherine to Kakadu National Park. The only thing more terrifying than the plastic clog variety are the crocs that can be found in Kakadu. Luckily, the areas we’re heading to today are saltwater crocodile free. If this place looks familiar, you’ve probably seen Crocodile Dundee one too many times. Still too freaked out to swim? Take a scenic flight for a bird’s eye view over the escarpment that marks the borderline of Arnhem Land. (B,D)

$1

om fr y g da tin ar 8/ St 8

DAY 5 Kakadu National Park. Get ready to rock early, because we’re rolling deep into the park to check out some Aboriginal Rock Art sites and cruise the East Alligator River to see how many crocs we can snap. We’ve also got special permission to enter Arnhem Land for a lesson in traditional Aboriginal hunting methods and a cruise down the river. Hope you’ve got good aim because that’s how we’re catching lunch today. Kidding, you’ll have to buy your grub. Climb to the top of Ubirr Rock Priscilla, Queen

On the bucket list (included) + + + + +

Canoe in the Katherine Gorge East Alligator River cruise in Kakadu Aboriginal guide and entry into Arnhemland Visit Aboriginal rock art sites in Kakadu NP Swim in the fresh waters of Litchfield NP

More inclusions + + + + +

5 breakfasts (B), 1 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D) 5 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins Entrance fees to national parks Modern air-conditioned vehicle Awesome Driver/Guide

of the Desert style (heels optional) and take in the fiery sunset. (B)

DAY 6 Kakadu to Darwin (Litchfield National Park). This morning, we chase more waterfalls and check out towering termite mounds in Litchfield National Park, then roll into Darwin where the front page of the newspaper can shout, “A croc walked into a bar…” without a hint of humour. Strewth. (B,L) This trip is a section of the 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Top trip. See p.51 for more details.

Ex. Alice Springs AARTUD Start 8.00am Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Finish 6.00pm Mitchell Street Darwin Ex. Darwin AARTDU Start 7.00am Melaleuea on Mitchell Darwin Finish 6.00pm Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs The Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine and Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks) have an annual wet season that typically operates between November and April. During the wet season it is necessary to change our dry season itinerary and substitute some attractions, particularly in Kakadu National Park. Please refer to our website www.topdeck.travel for our wet season itinerary.

53

DAY 2 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas).

Start your day with a big bowl of ‘oh my god’ thanks to a breathtaking sunrise sesh back at Uluru. Follow in the footsteps of the traditional owners of this sacred World Heritage site with a full base walk, where you can escape the crowds and check out hidden waterholes. Do your best Attenborough narration as you keep watch for wedge-tailed eagles, spinifex hopping mice and thorny devils. Or splurge on a Harley ride or scenic flight and see the original Top of the Rock. Later, join a meditative dot painting class in the Aboriginal Art Markets and give yourself a free astrology lesson, stargazing at the endless Southern night sky. (B) DAY 3 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Get ready for some sole searching as we venture into the heart of the sacred Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas) and walk amongst the 36 red sandstone giants through the Valley of the Winds. After a Dreamtime archeology lesson, and a drive into Watarrka National Park, live the life of a jolly swagman as we camp under the stars. (B,D) DAY 4 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. If you would walk 500 miles, then you’ll make it through the toughest part of the Rim Walk – Heart Attack Hill.

Skirt the edges of Australia’s biggest natural skate bowl then take the stairway to heaven, down to the sheltered valley and waterhole of the Garden of Eden. You may not find the tree of life, or be allowed to swim, but the peacefulness of this stop will provide a good dose of red centre memories to take with you once we return to the arms of Alice. (B,L) This trip is a section of the 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Top trip. See p.51 for more details.

3

BREAKFASTS

1

LUNCH

2

DINNERS

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

On the bucket list (included) + Sunset & sunrise over Uluru + “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta + Guided hike of Kings Canyon

More inclusions + + + + +

3 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 2 dinners (D) 2 nights in lodges, 1 night in a swag Entrance fees to national parks Modern air-conditioned vehicle Awesome Driver/Guide

DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 USD

TRIP CODE: AARCUU Start 2015 05 19 26 02 16 23 02 16 23 30 13 20 27 11 18 25 08 15 22 29 06 13 20 03 10 17

Finish Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr May May May Jun Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug

08 22 29 05 19 26 05 19 26 02 16 23 30 14 21 28 11 18 25 02 09 16 23 06 13 20

Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr Apr May May May Jun Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug

G G

G

G G G G G G G G G G G G

TRIP PRICE OF $655

Start 31 07 14 21 28 05 12 26 02 09 23 30 07 11 21 28 2016 04 25 01 08 15 22 29 14 21 28

Aug Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar

Finish 03 Sep 10 Sep 17 Sep 24 Sep 01 Oct 08 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct 05 Nov 12 Nov 26 Nov 03 Dec 10 Dec 14 Dec 24 Dec 31 Dec 07 28 04 11 18 25 03 17 24 31

Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar

G G G G G G G G G G

G G

G

G G G G

TRIP PRICE OF $699

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

4 DAYS FROM

655

$

PER PERSON Start Finish

7.00am Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs 6.00pm Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs

S

DAY 1 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). We’re hitting rock bottom… but in the best way possible because we’re off to Uluru. If you like big humps and you cannot lie, a visit to an outback camel farm will get your motor running. Just like a karma, karma, karma, chameleon, Uluru morphs through 50 shades of red, providing a rockin’ live show at sunset as you watch with a glass of bubbles in hand. Welcome to the outback, mate. (D)

ALICE SPRINGS

$$X tarti 16X ng 4X/ fro /dd m aay y

ALICE SPRINGS

Australia

4 DAY Rock ‘N’ Canyon

GREAT OCEAN OCEAN ROAD ROAD

HIT THE ROAD Stretching 243 kilometres through world-class surf breaks, rainforest and eucalyptus trees, the Great Ocean Road is a winding showcase of Australia’s best assets. Watch the waves crash against the 12 apostles at sunset, keep an eye out for koalas, kangaroos and even breaching whales in winter. Then take a fork in the road and explore waterfalls, national parks and some of the country’s best wines on a road trip to write home about.

NEED TO KNOW: Number of apostles: 8 (actually not 12) Famous movie shot here: Point Break (starring Keanu Reeves as 90s surfer dude) Most famous beach: Bell’s Beach.

Southern Cross

57

Down South & Outback

58

Outback Adventure

61

56 Australia

8 DAY Outback Gem ADELAIDE

ALICE SPRINGS

7

BREAKFASTS

2

LUNCHES

4

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY ADELAIDE OR ALICE SPRINGS

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAOGAU/AAOGAU Ex. Adelaide AAOGAU Start Finish 2015 01 Jan 08 Jan 15 Jan 22 Jan 22 Jan 29 Jan 29 Jan 05 Feb 12 Feb 19 Feb 19 Feb 26 Feb 26 Feb 05 Mar 12 Mar 19 Mar 19 Mar 26 Mar 26 Mar 02 Apr 16 Apr 23 Apr 14 May 21 May 04 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 18 Jun 09 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 23 Jul 06 Aug 13 Aug 27 Aug 03 Sep 03 Sep 10 Sep 01 Oct 08 Oct 08 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct 05 Nov 19 Nov 26 Nov 26 Nov 03 Dec 24 Dec 31 Dec 2016 14 Jan 21 Jan 21 Jan 28 Jan 18 Feb 25 Feb 17 Mar 24 Mar

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

TRIP PRICE OF $1245 TRIP PRICE OF $1395 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

8 DAYS FROM

1245

$

PER PERSON

USD

Ex. Alice Springs AAOGUA Start Finish 2015 05 Jan 12 Jan 19 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 02 Feb G 02 Feb 09 Feb 16 Feb 23 Feb 23 Feb 02 Mar G 02 Mar 09 Mar 16 Mar 23 Mar 23 Mar 30 Mar 27 Apr 04 May 25 May 01 Jun 22 Jun 29 Jun 29 Jun 06 Jul G 20 Jul 27 Jul 10 Aug 17 Aug G 17 Aug 24 Aug 14 Sep 21 Sep 21 Sep 28 Sep G 12 Oct 19 Oct G 02 Nov 09 Nov 09 Nov 16 Nov G 07 Dec 14 Dec 11 Dec 18 Dec G 2016 04 Jan 11 Jan 01 Feb 08 Feb 08 Feb 15 Feb G 29 Feb 07 Mar 28 Mar 04 Apr TRIP PRICE OF $1265

DAY 1 Adelaide to Parachilna (Flinders Ranges).

Instead of starting with a scream, we’re starting the trip with a whisper. The Barossa Reservoir Whispering Wall is an engineer’s dream but just around the corner is Clare Valley; a wine drinker’s dream. (D) DAY 2 Parachilna to Quorn (Flinders Ranges).

Flinders Ranges National Park is a spoiled brat, it has everything. From mountains to gorges and creeks to rivers, you’re lucky you get to play in its toy cupboard today. Grab a feed, then it’s time for some rock art and a lesson in hard yakka at Kanyaka Station – an abandoned sheep and cattle farm. (B,L) DAY 3 Quorn to Coober Pedy. First stop: #saltlakeselfies. Then, we meet the orphans of the kangaroo world and take shelter in the dugouts of opal mining town, Coober Pedy. Less about bombs, more about escaping the blazing heat. (B,D) DAY 4 Coober Pedy to Alice Springs. Today we cross the Mad Max landscape of the Moon Plain, but don’t worry, we won’t make you fight to the death.

Then, check out the world’s longest Dingo Fence.

Good thing there’s a gate. (B) DAY 5 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). In 1860, 24 camels were brought to Australia. They got busy, now there are over 300,000. So hop on up and give one a ride when we stop at an outback camel farm.

Afterwards, we come to the most recognisable rock in the world. Uluru will swallow gigabytes of photos but then the sun starts setting and it goes and changes colour on you, the sneaky bugger. Bring a spare memory card, you’re going to need it. (B,D) DAY 6 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas).

Sometimes words have two meanings but Uluru just means Uluru, thats how unique and sacred this place really is. In fact, if you take rocks from here, the Anangu people believe you will be cursed. So grab something from the markets and save yourself the damnation. (B)

$1

om fr y g da tin ar 6/ St 5

DAY 7 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Just like Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, Uluru gets all the attention; it’s time to meet its siblings. The Olgas offer some of the best hikes in Australia, but keep watch. Legend has it a great snake king lives on the summit. Tonight,

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + +

Local winery visit in Clare Valley View the magic of the Flinders Ranges Parachilna & famous Outback BBQ Stay underground in Coober Pedy Visit a kangaroo orphanage Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon

More inclusions + 7 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L), 4 dinners (D) + 5 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night underground, 1 night in a swag + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicle + Awesome Driver/Guide get your swag on (Australian for sleeping under the stars). (B,D)

DAY 8 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. Kings Canyon starts with Heart Attack Hill before we get to the Garden of Eden... what’s that saying about no pain no gain? Our trip ends in Alice Springs – the epicentre of Australia – so spin the bottle and pick a direction. It doesn’t have to end here! (B,L) This trip is a section of the 12 Day Down South & Outback trip. See p.58 for more details.

Ex. Adelaide AAOGAU Start 7.00am YHA Central Adelaide Finish 6.00pm Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Ex. Alice Springs AAOGUA Start 7.00am Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Finish 6.00pm YHA Central Adelaide

57

MELBOURNE

ADELAIDE

2

BREAKFASTS

2

Australia

3 DAY Southern Cross DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY MELBOURNE OR ADELAIDE

DAY 3 Grampians National Park to Adelaide.

By the end of today you’ll have nailed a trifecta of the highest, largest and longest landforms across two states. Straight outta the gate: McKenzie Falls, the largest waterfall in Victoria. It’s no Niagara, but flowing water is guaranteed year-round – a rare promise in a country that’s 40% desert. Then, the Northern Grampians for one last pano where #natureporn trends with views to Mt Williams, the highest peak in the park and third-highest mountain in Victoria. To complete the trilogy: the Murray River – a bronze medallist to the Nile and Amazon – stretching 2520 kilometres and spanning three states.

How’s that for today’s form guide? (B) This trip is a section of the 12 Day Down South & Outback trip. See p.58 for more details.

DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + Great Ocean Road & sunset at 12 Apostles + Stunning Grampians NP + Visit Brambuk Cultural Centre & paint your own boomerang + Hike to the base of MacKenzie Falls

More inclusions + + + +

2 breakfasts (B), 2 dinners (D) 2 nights in lodges & hotels Modern air-conditioned vehicle Awesome Driver/Guide

Ex. Melbourne AAMRMA Start 6.30am Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne Finish 6.00pm YHA Central Adelaide Ex. Adelaide AAMRAM Start 6.30am YHA Central Adelaide Finish 7.00pm Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAMRMA/AAMRAM Ex. Melbourne AAMRMA Start Finish 2015 11 Jan 13 Jan 18 Jan 20 Jan G 25 Jan 27 Jan 08 Feb 10 Feb 15 Feb 17 Feb G 22 Feb 24 Feb 08 Mar 10 Mar 15 Mar 17 Mar G 22 Mar 24 Mar 12 Apr 14 Apr G 10 May 12 May G 31 May 02 Jun 07 Jun 09 Jun G 05 Jul 07 Jul G 12 Jul 14 Jul 02 Aug 04 Aug G 23 Aug 25 Aug 30 Aug 01 Sep G 27 Sep 29 Sep G 04 Oct 06 Oct 25 Oct 27 Oct 15 Nov 17 Nov G 22 Nov 24 Nov G 20 Dec 22 Dec G 2016 10 Jan 12 Jan 17 Jan 19 Jan G 14 Feb 16 Feb G 13 Mar 15 Mar G TRIP PRICE OF $470

USD

Ex. Adelaide AAMRAM Start Finish 2015 07 Jan 09 Jan 14 Jan 16 Jan 28 Jan 30 Jan 04 Feb 06 Feb 11 Feb 13 Feb 25 Feb 27 Feb 04 Mar 06 Mar 11 Mar 13 Mar 25 Mar 27 Mar 06 May 08 May 03 Jun 05 Jun 01 Jul 03 Jul 08 Jul 10 Jul 29 Jul 31 Jul 19 Aug 21 Aug 26 Aug 28 Aug 23 Sep 25 Sep 30 Sep 02 Oct 21 Oct 23 Oct 11 Nov 13 Nov 18 Nov 20 Nov 16 Dec 18 Dec 20 Dec 22 Dec 2016 13 Jan 15 Jan 10 Feb 12 Feb 17 Feb 19 Feb 09 Mar 11 Mar 06 Apr 08 Apr

G

G

G G

G G G G

G

TRIP PRICE OF $525

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

3 DAYS FROM

470

$

PER PERSON

St

DAY 2 Port Campbell to Grampians National Park.

From one natural wonder to another, we’ll explore the 167,000 hectares of The Grampians – a Mecca for hikers and rock climbers. More than just a place to get geology goosebumps, you’ll be standing on sacred ground, with 80% of Victoria’s Aboriginal rock art on show. Meet the traditional land owners, whose ancestors were scratching and dabbing their Dreamtime stories onto rock long before the Pyramids of Egypt were conceived, then paint your own story onto a boomerang. (B,D)

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

$1 artin 57 g f /d rom ay

DAY 1 Melbourne to Port Campbell (Great Ocean Road). If you’ve ever seen a car commercial, chances are you’ve seen the Great Ocean Road. With mere metres between road and water, hairpin bends and epic views out every window – today you’ll join the list of five million people to do this road-of-passage each year. Before putting any rubber on GOR, we’ll tick off the spiritual home of surfing, spot koalas in the wild and lunch in a seaside village. This afternoon is all about the Twelve Apostles, aka the Stonehenge of the Australian coast. (D)

58 Australia

12 DAY Down South & Outback MELBOURNE

ALICE SPRINGS

11

BREAKFASTS

2

LUNCHES

7

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY MELBOURNE OR ALICE SPRINGS

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAMRMU/AAMRUM Ex. Melbourne AAMRMU Start Finish 2015 11 Jan 22 Jan 18 Jan 29 Jan G 25 Jan 25 Jan 05 05 Feb Feb 08 08 Feb Feb 19 19 Feb Feb 15 Feb 26 15 Feb 26 Feb Feb G G 22 Feb 05 Mar 22 Feb 05 Mar 08 Mar 19 Mar 08 Mar 19 Mar 15 Mar 26 Mar G 15 Mar 26 Mar G 22 Mar 02 Apr 22 Mar 12 Apr 02 23 Apr Apr G 12 May Apr 23 Apr G 10 21 May G 10 31 May May 21 11 May Jun G 31 May 11 Jun 07 Jun 18 G 05 Jul 16 Jul G 07 Jun 18 Jun 12 Jul 23 05 16 Jul G 02 13 Aug 12 Aug Jul 23 Jul G 23 Aug Sep G 02 Aug 03 13 Aug 30 Aug 03 10 Sep 23 Aug Sep G 27 Aug Sep 08 Oct G 30 10 Sep G 04 Oct 15 Oct 27 Sep 08 Oct G 25 Oct 05 Nov G 04 Oct 15 Oct 15 Nov 26 Nov 25 Oct 05 Nov G 22 Nov 03 Dec G 15 Nov 20 Dec 26 31 Nov Dec G 22 Nov 03 Dec G 2016 20 Dec 31 10 Jan 21 Dec Jan G 2016 17 Jan 28 Jan G 10 Jan 25 21 Feb Jan G 14 Feb 13 Mar 17 Jan 24 28 Mar Jan G 14 Feb 25 Feb G TRIP PRICE OF G 13 Mar 24 Mar $1780 TRIP PRICE OF $1995 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

12 DAYS FROM

1780

$

PER PERSON

USD

Ex. Alice Springs AAMRUM Start Finish 2015 05 Jan 16 Jan 19 Jan 30 Jan 26 26 Jan Jan 06 06 Feb Feb G G 02 02 Feb Feb 13 13 Feb Feb 16 Feb 27 Feb 16 Feb 27 Feb 23 Feb 06 Mar G 23 Feb 06 Mar G 02 Mar 13 Mar 02 Mar 13 Mar 16 Mar 27 Mar 16 Mar 27 Mar 23 Mar 03 Apr 23 03 May Apr 27 Mar Apr 08 27 May Apr 08 25 05 May Jun 25 May 05 22 Jun 03 Jun Jul 22 Jun 03 29 10 Jul G 29 Jun 10 Jul G 20 Jul 31 10 Aug 21 Aug 20 Jul 31 Jul G 17 Aug 28 10 21 Aug G 14 Sep 28 25 Aug Sep 17 Aug 21 Sep 02 Oct G 14 Sep 25 Sep 12 Oct 02 23 Oct Oct G G 21 Sep 02 Nov 13 Nov 12 Oct 23 Oct G 09 Nov 20 Nov G 02 Nov 13 Nov 07 Dec 18 Dec 09 Nov G 11 Dec 20 22 Nov Dec G 07 Dec 18 Dec 2016 11 Dec 04 Jan 22 15 Dec Jan G 2016 01 Feb 12 Feb 04 Jan 19 15 Feb Jan G 08 Feb 29 11 Feb Mar 01 Feb 12 28 Feb Mar 08 Apr G 08 19 Feb 29 Feb 11 Mar TRIP PRICE OF 28 Mar 08 Apr $1875

DAY 1 Melbourne to Port Campbell (Great Ocean Road). OMG it’s the GOR. This road trip to the 12 Apostles is on your bucket list, even if you didn’t know it. Once you’ve picked your gob-smacked jaw off the floor you too will preach the beauty of this drive. (D) DAY 2 Port Campbell to Grampians National Park.

Melbournites brag you can have four seasons in one day. Local Aboriginal tribes recognise six seasons in Grampians National Park… how do you even dress for that?! Get the inside scoop at Brambuk Cultural Centre. (B,D) DAY 3 Grampians National Park to Adelaide.

Australia is coming at you today; best be prepared.

Into the wilds we go, hiking to MacKenzie Falls and 22,000 years of rock art. (B) DAY 4 Adelaide. You’ve made it to the City of Churches but there’s no sermon here. It’s a free day for the adventurous to head to Kangaroo Island.

Learn about the birds and the bees... and some of the other 46 endemic species. (B) DAY 5 Adelaide to Parachilna (Flinders Ranges).

If you’re a dam enthusiast this might just be the best day of your life. We’re stopping at the Barossa Reservoir Whispering Wall. For everyone else, there’s wine. #winning! (B,D) DAY 6 Parachilna to Quorn (Flinders Ranges).

Koalas? Done it. Emus and kangaroos? Doing it today on a hike to a rock stadium like no other – Wilpena Pound. Maximum Australian taste (no added sugar).

(B,L,D) DAY 7 Quorn to Coober Pedy. Destination: Coober Pedy. Where locals live in homes carved deep underground to escape the heat. Just like wombats.

(B,D) DAY 8 Coober Pedy to Alice Springs. Cross Moon Plain like a fleeing Mad Max or glammed-up Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Remember to close the gate on 5,614 kms of dingo fence. (B)

$1

om fr g ay tin /d ar St 48

DAY 9 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock).

Baby got back… at an outback camel farm visit this morning. Tonight? Date night with Uluru. Sunset and bubbles, oh my! (B,D)

On the bucket list (included) + Great Ocean Road & sunset at 12 Apostles + Stunning Grampians NP + Visit Brambuk Cultural Centre & paint your own boomerang + Hike to the base of MacKenzie Falls + Local winery visit in Clare Valley + View the magic of the Flinders Ranges + Parachilna & famous Outback BBQ + Stay underground in Coober Pedy + Visit a kangaroo orphanage + Sunset & sunrise over Uluru + “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta + Guided hike of Kings Canyon

More inclusions + 11 breakfasts (B), 2 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D) + 9 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night underground, 1 night in a swag + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicle + Awesome Driver/Guide DAY 10 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). What’s more amazing than sunset at Uluru?

Sunrise. Get your adventure on with a scenic flight or Harley ride. (B) DAY 11 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Visit Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas), where according to the Dreaming, the great snake king Wanambi inhabits the highest peak.

Tonight we sleep in swags. Best zip up tight! (B,D) DAY 12 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk will cap your Aussie outback adventure. You could pass as an Aussie now, mate!

(B,L) Ex. Melbourne AAMRMU Start 6.30am Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne Finish 6.00pm Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Ex. Alice Springs AAMRUM Start 7.00am Ibis Styles Hotel Alice Springs Finish 7.00pm Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne

59

ADELAIDE

DARWIN

14

BREAKFASTS

3

LUNCHES

8

Australia

15 DAY Opals & Outback DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY ADELAIDE OR DARWIN

DAY 3 Quorn to Coober Pedy. What you spotted yesterday? You can have on your pizza tonight. It’s not just opal mining they do well here. (B,D) DAY 4 Coober Pedy to Alice Springs. Strap on a billowing silver cape, we’re crossing the Moon Plain and taking in the Breakaways Reserve in true Priscilla, Queen of the Desert style. (B) DAY 5 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Taller than the Eiffel Tower, 10 kilometres around its base, Uluru isn’t just epic. It’s the red heart of Aus. (B,D) DAY 6 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas).

Rock of ages? 600 million of them, in fact. Get swept up in Uluru’s mystical aura with a base walk. (B)

Parachilna & famous Outback BBQ Stay underground in Coober Pedy Visit a kangaroo orphanage Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon East Alligator River cruise in Kakadu Aboriginal guide and entry into Arnhemland Visit Aboriginal rock art sites in Kakadu NP

More inclusions + 14 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 8 dinners (D) + 12 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night underground, 1 night in a swag + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicle + Awesome Driver/Guide

DAY 7 Uluru to Kings Canyon. Want to know a secret? Mt Olga is actually taller than Uluru. And it has 35 other rock buddies to keep it company. (B,D)

lookouts before a flight over Australia’s final frontier.

(B,D)

DAY 8 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. Find a fig leaf; we’re hiking the Rim Walk to the Garden of Eden. Hope you like mindblowing beauty burning into your retinas. (B,L)

DAY 14 Kakadu National Park. At half the size of Switzerland, there’s a lot of Kakadu to see. Behold the Nat Geo highlights reel: rock art, croc cruise and spear throwing in Arnhem Land. (B)

DAY 9 Alice Springs. Get to know Alice with a free day, smack bang in the epicentre of Australia. (B)

DAY 15 Kakadu to Darwin (Litchfield National Park). Chase more waterfalls in Litchfield National Park before a return to reality in Darwin. You’ve got outback in your soul for good now. (B,L)

DAY 10 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek. Roll into Barrow Creek (population: 11) and donate one of your dollar, dollar bills to the ‘Barrow Creek Bank’. Then play amongst Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). (B,D) DAY 11 Tennant Creek to Katherine. Fancy a hot bath? The teal waters of Mataranka thermal springs are worth the sweat. (B,D) DAY 12 Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls. Row, row, row your canoe down the most spectacular gorge you might ever see. Cool down under Edith Falls. (B) DAY 13 Katherine to Kakadu National Park. Make like Mick Dundee and suss out Kakadu’s prettiest

DAY STOP

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + + +

This trip is a section of the 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Top and the 12 Day Down South & Outback trips. See p.51 and p.58 for more details.

Dates & Prices 2015-16 TRIP CODE: AAOOAD/AAOODA Ex. Adelaide AAOOAD Start Finish 2015 22 Jan 05 Feb 19 Feb 05 Mar 19 Mar 02 Apr 16 Apr 30 Apr 14 May 28 May 04 Jun 18 Jun 11 Jun 25 Jun 09 Jul 23 Jul 16 Jul 30 Jul 06 Aug 20 Aug 27 Aug 10 Sep 03 Sep 17 Sep 01 Oct 15 Oct 08 Oct 22 Oct 29 Oct 12 Nov 19 Nov 03 Dec 26 Nov 10 Dec 24 Dec 07 Jan 2016 14 Jan 28 Jan 21 Jan 04 Feb 18 Feb 03 Mar 17 Mar 31 Mar

G G G G G G G G

USD

Ex. Darwin AAOODA Start Finish 2015 12 Jan 26 Jan 09 Feb 23 Feb 09 Mar 23 Mar 22 Jun 06 Jul 03 Aug 17 Aug 14 Sep 28 Sep 26 Oct 09 Nov 04 Dec 18 Dec 2016 11 Jan 25 Jan 01 Feb 15 Feb

G G

G G G

G G G

TRIP PRICE OF $2410

TRIP PRICE OF $2435

TRIP PRICE OF $2575 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

15 DAYS FROM

2410

$

PER PERSON The Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine and Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks) have an annual wet season that typically operates between November and April. During the wet season it is necessary to change our dry season itinerary and substitute some attractions, particularly in Kakadu National Park. Please refer to our website www.topdeck.travel for our wet season itinerary.

Ex. Adelaide AAOOAD Start 7.00am YHA Central Adelaide Finish 6.00pm Mitchell Street Darwin Ex. Darwin AAOODA Start 7.00am Melaleuea on Mitchell Street Finish 6.00pm YHA Central Adelaide

St

DAY 2 Parachilna to Quorn (Flinders Ranges). Spot the Australian coat of arms in 3D then hike into the geo-rock stadium of Wilpena Pound. (B,L,D)

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY

$1 artin 61 g f /d rom ay

DAY 1 Adelaide to Parachilna (Flinders Ranges).

Hold your secrets in at the Whispering Wall. Let them out after a wine tasting in the Clare Valley. (D)

61

DAY 2 Port Campbell to Grampians National Park.

See where London Bridge really did fall down on a morning beat around the Great Ocean Road’s best assets then paint your own boomerang at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. (B,D) DAY 3 Grampians National Park to Adelaide. Hike to the largest waterfall in the Grampians and step into an ancient outdoor artists’ workshop with rock walls as canvas. (B) DAY 4 Adelaide. Welcome to one of the world’s coolest cities (according to Lonely Planet). Spend the day slurping noodles in the Adelaide Central Market, tram it to the seaside village of Glenelg or spot seals, kangaroos and penguins on Australia’s answer to the Galapagos: Kangaroo Island. (B) DAY 5 Adelaide to Parachilna (Flinders Ranges).

There’s more wineries around here than flies on a sheep’s… but today we’re taking you to the oldest in the Clare Valley for a taste test. On the way, we stop at the Barossa Reservoir Whispering Wall. There’s a time and place for confessions. This isn’t it. (B,D) DAY 6 Parachilna to Quorn (Flinders Ranges).

Tough mudder? Pfft. The emus running alongside the bus eat stones and glass to grind up food in their gut.

Get Bear Grylls-tough on a hike to Wilpena Pound—a natural amphitheatre about three times the size of Uluru—then on to rock art site Arkaroo Rock, and the Kanyaka Ruins. (B,L,D) DAY 7 Quorn to Coober Pedy. After a #saltlakeselfie stop, we meet the orphans of the kangaroo world, and explore the most random place on earth – the underground town of Coober Pedy. (B,D) DAY 8 Coober Pedy to Alice Springs. If mankind were to be wiped out, the scene might look like the Moon Plain—a desolate, lunar landscape only broken by the Dingo Fence. Luckily the pool at our accommodation isn’t a mirage. (B) DAY 9 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Have your own Wills and Kate moment when we toast the sunset at Uluru. But first, a guided walk to get schooled on this 600-million-year-old monolith.

(B,D) DAY 10 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). Beat the heat with a morning hike around the base of Uluru, or get fancier than Iggy Azalea with a Harley ride or scenic flight. You might know the Harlem Shake but what about the emu or kangaroo? Learn some sweet new moves with a cultural dance group. (B) DAY 11 Uluru to Kings Canyon. After hiking through the Valley of the Winds into the heart of the sacred Kata-Tjuta, we’ll journey across desert plains with the promise of some serious swag to meet us around the campfire. An Aussie swag that is (aka your bed for the night). This sky is what Coldplay has been crooning about. (B,D) DAY 12 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. Do a Google image search for Kings Canyon. Slap yourself for having no idea beauty like this existed. We’ll do the Rim Walk to the Garden of Eden (exactly what it sounds like) before a picnic lunch and a trip back into the arms of Alice. (B,L) DAY 13 Alice Springs. Feeling a bit weary? Kick back around the pool, or if you’ve got energy to burn, visit the best surrogate mother on the planet: Kangaroo Dundee. Get a history lesson at the Royal Flying Doctor Museum. Think texting is annoying? Try the Traeger Pedal Radio. (B)

18

BREAKFASTS

3

LUNCHES

On the bucket list (included) + Great Ocean Road & sunset at 12 Apostles + Stunning Grampians NP + Visit Brambuk Cultural Centre & paint your own boomerang + Hike to the base of MacKenzie Falls + Local winery visit in Clare Valley + View the magic of the Flinders Ranges + Parachilna & famous Outback BBQ + Stay underground in Coober Pedy + Visit a kangaroo orphanage + Sunset & sunrise over Uluru + “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta + Guided hike of Kings Canyon + Canoe in the Katherine Gorge + East Alligator River cruise in Kakadu + Aboriginal guide and entry into Arnhemland + Visit Aboriginal rock art sites in Kakadu NP + Swim in the fresh waters of Litchfield NP

More inclusions + 18 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 10 dinners (D) + 16 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night underground, 1 night in a swag + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned coach + Awesome Driver/Guide DAY 14 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek. This morning we’re hitting the ‘Barrow Creek Bank’—like the suspended coffee movement, but for beer. Sign a banknote, stick it to the wall of the Barrow Creek Pub and use it to buy a beer on a later journey. Then ‘knuckle down’ for our visit to Karlu Karlu. (B,D) DAY 15 Tennant Creek to Katherine. The pub crawl continues as we stop at Daly Waters Pub— home of Bill Bryson’s stubby-fuelled stay in Down Under. Leave a piece of yourself behind to add to the collection of bras, number plates and business cards then soak in the 34-degrees bliss of Mataranka thermal springs. (B,D) DAY 16 Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls. The green water of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge will leave you pondering what lies beneath as you paddle through, but no crocs here. Too hard basket? Upgrade to a three-gorge cruise and save your energy for swimming at Edith Falls this afternoon. (B)

10

DINNERS

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY MELBOURNE OR DARWIN

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

Dates & Prices 2015-16

G G

TRIP PRICE OF $2995

TRIP PRICE OF $3195 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE

DAY 18 Kakadu National Park. Ancient Aboriginal rock art, a croc-spotting cruise, spear throwing and learning traditional plant uses... you’ll be more Aussie than Vegemite at day’s end. (B)

PER PERSON

This trip is made up of a section of the 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Top and the 12 Day Down South & Outback trips. See p.51 and p.58 for more details.

Ex. Darwin AAMRDM Start Finish 2015 12 Jan 30 Jan 09 Feb 27 Feb 09 Mar 27 Mar 22 Jun 10 Jul 03 Aug 21 Aug 14 Sep 02 Oct 26 Oct 13 Nov 04 Dec 22 Dec 2016 11 Jan 29 Jan 01 Feb 19 Feb

TRIP PRICE OF $2915

DAY 17 Katherine to Kakadu National Park. The natural pool and waterfalls in Kakadu smash any five-star hotel pool for six and if you thought you couldn’t get much more ‘Strayan, the falls were also in Crocodile Dundee. This afternoon, take an optional scenic flight over the Escarpment. (B,D)

DAY 19 Kakadu to Darwin (Litchfield National Park). Like the end of a spin class, it’s time for the cool down as we stop for more waterfalls in Litchfield National Park, then prepare to meet the Darwin locals, where the NT News provides some of the best headlines known to man. (B, L )

USD

TRIP CODE: AAMRMD/AAMRDM Ex. Melbourne AAMRMD Start Finish 2015 18 Jan 05 Feb 15 Feb 05 Mar G 15 Mar 02 Apr 12 Apr 30 Apr G 10 May 28 May G 31 May 18 Jun 07 Jun 25 Jun G 05 Jul 23 Jul G 12 Jul 30 Jul 02 Aug 20 Aug G 23 Aug 10 Sep 30 Aug 17 Sep G 27 Sep 15 Oct G 04 Oct 22 Oct 25 Oct 12 Nov G 15 Nov 03 Dec 22 Nov 10 Dec G 20 Dec 07 Jan G 2016 10 Jan 28 Jan 17 Jan 04 Feb G 14 Feb 03 Mar G 13 Mar 31 Mar G

19 DAYS FROM

2915

$

Ex. Melborune AAMRMD Start 6.30am Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne Finish 6.00pm Mitchell Street Darwin Ex. Darwin AAMRDM Start 7.00am Melaleuea on Mitchell Street Finish 7.00pm Nomads A'Beckett St Melbourne The Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine and Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks) have an annual wet season that typically operates between November and April. During the wet season it is necessary to change our dry season itinerary and substitute some attractions, particularly in Kakadu National Park. Please refer to our website www.topdeck.travel for our wet season itinerary.

St

DAY 1 Melbourne to Port Campbell (Great Ocean Road). You might not be in a European convertible, but the views from this cliff-hugging drive are still as epic. See the Twelve Apostles and bust koalas in the treetops, whacked out on eucalyptus. (D)

DARWIN

$1 artin 53 g f /d rom ay

MELBOURNE

Australia

19 DAY Outback Adventure

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+Topdeck

(1) A trip of an equivalent or closely similar standard and price, if available;

BOOKING CONDITIONS It is our intention to set out clearly and simply the responsibilities which we at Top Deck Tours Pty Ltd, a company registered in Australia, (ABN 30 107 934 841) (hereafter referred to as “Topdeck, us or we”) have to You, your heirs, executors and assigns and any member of your party and their heirs, executors and assigns (“You”) and which You, in turn, have to us when a contract is made between us. You should therefore read and understand the contents.

All Australia and New Zealand extended trips in this brochure are operated by Topdeck. Your contract will be with Topdeck as the operator and are sold subject to the following conditions (“these Conditions”).

1. a) Please note that our trips are designed for young people between the ages of 18 to 39 years. We may in special circumstances approve persons slightly outside this range, but you must contact us for approval before making a booking. If You are 17 years of age and wish to book on one of our tours, please contact us before making a booking as we will require the written consent of your parent or guardian and you must be travelling with an accompanying passenger 18 to 39. We reserve the sole right to decline a booking request from You should we think our trips are not suited to You. b) A contract between You and us will exist as soon as we issue an invoice in response to your request for a booking and the deposit has been paid to your travel agent or us.

BOOKING YOUR TRIP 2. Bookings can be made either through your local travel agent or with us direct and must be secured with a deposit of $200 per person paid at the time of booking. This deposit is nonrefundable unless we cancel your trip. If You are making a booking within 42 days of departure, then full payment is required. If a trip comprises a special offer, remittance is required as per the conditions outlined. Full payment in this instance includes but is not limited to pre and post accommodation and any ancillary charges. Open dated Passes must be paid in full at time of purchase.

Your booking is taken to be confirmed, and accepted when we issue an invoice. If your booking is made through a travel agent, we will address all correspondence to that travel agent. All monies paid by You to the travel agent will be held by them on behalf of Topdeck.

If You arrange your trip direct with us, all correspondence and communications will be sent to your address in our booking file unless You specify otherwise. Balance of all payments is required at least 42 days prior to your trip departure date. If You do not pay within this period we may deem your booking cancelled and your deposit forfeited.

3. Alterations or cancellations by You after your booking has been accepted will be effected subject to the provisions of clauses 5, 6 and 7 of these Conditions.

4. Prices quoted in our brochures are calculated on costs and exchange rates at 01 October 2014. These prices may increase or decrease and we reserve the sole right to alter prices and other particulars contained in our brochures and on our website. Price changes in trips featured in subsequent brochure versions will supersede the prices in this brochure. (The version date is indicated on the front cover of this brochure). Before You make a booking we will provide You with details of the current price of your chosen trip. This will also be displayed on the website. Once You have accepted this price and your booking has been confirmed in accordance with clause 2 that price will remain fixed and will not be subject to surcharges.

5. You must clearly state all your requirements at the time of booking.

Please note that any dietary requirements will be a request only. We cannot guarantee special dietary requirements nor will we assume any responsibility or liability if your special requirements cannot be fulfilled. If You want to change any aspect of your booking including but not limited to a change to a trip of shorter duration or different departure date You must notify us as soon as possible in writing. We will do our best to accommodate your requested changes however You will be required to pay an amendment fee of $60 per person ($30 per person for pre or post-accommodation within 42 days) if outside 42 days of departure, this is per change. If a request is made less than 42 days before departure, normal cancellation fees will apply in accordance with clause 7 unless the transfer or change is to an earlier departure of the same trip. In the event of a request for a change being received by us, sent from you, a new invoice will be issued by Topdeck and all cancellation charges/amendment fees will be shown.

All amendment fees are payable within 7 days of the issue of a new invoice or on the date of departure, whichever is the sooner.

6. If You are prevented from travelling as a result of illness, the death of an immediate family member, jury service or other significant reason beyond your control, we will agree to your booking being transferred to another person who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the trip, subject to You and the other person accepting liability for full payment of the trip cost and any additional costs arising from the transfer PROVIDED THAT we must be given at least 21 days written notice of the proposed change.

CANCELLATION BY YOU 7. Cancellation of a booking by You must be made in writing. We will not regard a booking as cancelled unless and until written notice is received by us.

(2) A trip of a lower standard together with a refund of the difference in price; or (3) Cancellation with a full refund of all monies paid.

10. A material modification is one which has a serious effect on your trip and includes a change of departure date, departure point or airport, or change of departure time of more than twelve hours, which would cause substantial inconvenience to You. We do not consider a change of accommodation or transport style a material change.

11. We will endeavour not to materially modify or cancel the trip within 42 days of the date of the scheduled departure unless compelled to do so because of circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

If a material modification or cancellation is made by us within six weeks of the scheduled departure date for reasons other than Force Majeure in accordance with clause 19 You will receive compensation as stated in the scale below. Period before scheduled departure date that we notify You or your travel agent together with the compensation offered.

Over 42 days 42-29 days 28-14 days

Nil $50 $75

13-7 days

$100

6-0 days

$200

12. Topdeck reserves to itself the sole right to require a minimum number of participants for certain trips and in the event that there are insufficient bookings recorded by not later than 42 days before the scheduled departure date we will be entitled to cancel the scheduled trip, whereupon all monies paid by You for your Topdeck trip shall be refunded but no further compensation will be paid and You and Topdeck hereby agree to mutually release each other from any further obligations which would have been enforceable had the trip not been cancelled.

13. We reserve the right to alter or substitute the type of vehicle mentioned in the brochure, depending on the number of passengers carried, which vary from trip to trip. Normally the maximum group size is 36 passengers.

OUR LIABILITY TO YOU 14. The responsibility of Topdeck as the Tour Operator and/or their agents is limited. We act only in the capacity of agents for carriers’, hoteliers’, or other service providers in all matters pertaining to accommodation, optional activities, sightseeing tours and as such, shall not be liable for any personal injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of any defect in any vehicle, or through the acts of defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying you or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour of otherwise in connection therewith.

Under no circumstances is Topdeck responsible for a) Delays, personal injury, property damage or any loss resulting from any Act of God, labour stoppages, mechanical breakdowns or participation in sport or activities. b) Any act of neglect of any person or company whose services are retained by Topdeck for your benefit including, but not limited to accommodation and transportation companies. Topdeck will not be held responsible for any loss, damage or theft of baggage or belongings. (You should take out Comprehensive Travel Insurance to travel on all Topdeck trips.)

15. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that You appreciate the possible risks inherent in adventure travel and that You undertake the trips featured in this brochure of your own volition. Every effort will be made to operate all trips featured in this brochure. It may be necessary at times to vary the itinerary from that stated in the brochure, and delays may occur for a variety of reasons beyond our control. The need for a flexible attitude to this type of travel is stressed in our publication. The final decision on the itinerary and the content of the trip will be taken by the Trip Leader, as appointed by us in the interest of the group as a whole. 16. No refund will be made for services made available by Topdeck but which for whatever reason are not used by You once the trip has departed.

EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY – FORCE MAJEURE 17. We do not accept liability for any loss, damage or expense resulting from war or terrorist activities threatened or actual, civil unrest, industrial action threatened or actual, weather conditions, fire, flood, drought, closures, unforeseen alterations to public transport schedules, rescheduling of aircraft or boats, epidemic or outbreaks of illness or any other event outside our control which either delays or extends or reduces the trip, or compels a change in the trip arrangements after departure.

CONTRAVENTION OF LAW We will not be responsible for any loss or damage sustained by You as a result of a contravention of any law or regulation of any of the places or countries visited while on the trip.

On cancellation the following charges will apply:

HEALTH AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Days before

18. If You have a medical condition or disability which may affect your trip, we ask that You inform us in writing at the time of booking the trip of any special arrangements required by You so that we are able to advise as to the suitability of those arrangements. If we reasonably feel we are unable to satisfactorily accommodate your particular needs , we reserve the right to decline the booking or ask for You to be accompanied by a person who is able to provide full assistance to You throughout your trip.

% of trip

Departure Over 42 days

Pre/post accomm cost forfeited

Deposit

Nil

42-29 days

40%

40%

28-14 days

60%

60%

13-7 days

80%

100%

6-3 days

90%

100%

2-0 days

100%

100%

Cancellation of Open Dated Passes before booking a departure date incur a $400 cancellation charge. Once your chosen departure date is booked all booking conditions apply including cancelation charges as listed above.

Flights 8. Should we book these on your behalf they will be subject to the conditions of the respective airline - this includes but is not limited to deposit/full payment and cancellation conditions.

CANCELLATION OR MODIFICATION BY US 9. Every effort will be made to operate all trips as advertised but it must be remembered that our trips are planned up to eighteen months in advance. Please note that the accommodation and services, featured in the brochure are indicative of those planned to use for the various trips, but it may be necessary to use alternatives in some cases. We therefore reserve the sole right, at our discretion, to modify or cancel any trip, flight schedule, accommodation or arrangement at any time. We will notify You as soon as possible of any material changes and they will form part of our contract with You. In the case of any material modification or cancellation, we will, if possible, provide You with three alternatives:

YOUR LIABILITY TO US 19. You will not be permitted to embark or continue on the trip if your behaviour, or your mental or physical condition is, in the reasonable opinion of any representative of Topdeck, such as to render You incapable of caring for yourself, or whereby You become objectionable to other passengers, or You become a hazard to yourself or other passengers. We will not be responsible for expenses resulting in You being precluded from completing the trip for any reason, nor will we refund You any part of your trip cost. In all cases we will notify You of the reasons why we have taken this action. We will have no obligation to arrange for your return to the point of the trip departure where your condition manifests itself after the trip departure. Further, if the trip involves travel by air, the captain of your aircraft can refuse to allow You to fly on the aircraft if he believes that You could be dangerous or disruptive to other passengers on the flight.

changes made outside this time, it is your responsibility to meet any additional costs which may be involved, except in the case of an error made by Topdeck and where there is reasonable justification for You not contacting us within the specified time. You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents including, but not limited to, passports, visas and vaccination certificates are valid and subsisting. We strongly recommend that You verify current documentation requirements and all other relevant protocols and procedures associated with your trip with your travel agent or us.

Please note requirements change and you must check with your Consulate for the most up to date information.

Passports must have an expiry date of at least six months after completion of the trip.

INSURANCE 21. We recommend You take out comprehensive travel insurance before You travel on your trip. Your insurance protection should include cover for cancellation, medical and repatriation expenses, personal injury and accident, death and loss of personal baggage and money and personal liability insurance and evidence of such insurances should be produced to Topdeck on request. Insurance cover offered by credit card companies or reciprocal medical cover agreements are often not comprehensive.

22. Please note that during Your trip there may be opportunities to take part in adventure activities or excursions, outside the itinerary as shown in the brochure. These do not form part of your contracted trip with Topdeck and you should ensure your Travel Insurance covers your participation in these activities 23. You hereby indemnify us against all thirdparty actions taken against us for loss or damage caused by You or arising from your participation on the trip.

COMPLAINTS 24. In the event of any dissatisfaction with the accommodation or any other service provided by Topdeck, You must report it immediately to the Trip Leader so that action can be taken to remedy the problem.

Any complaints made to Topdeck following the conclusion of the trip should be made in writing within 28 days of completion of the trip. In the event that You do not notify us in writing within 28 days, Topdeck’s ability to investigate the complaint may be prejudiced.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSIONS 25. During your trip you will be offered the chance to purchase various optional excursions and activities. Topdeck does not own, operate or control any of the companies or individuals which provide the optional activities or excursions. Some of the optional activities and excursions such as canyoning are inherently risky. If You want to take part in such optional activities or excursions You must be fit enough to do so and must follow all reasonable instructions. The standards of health and safety which will be adopted by the company or the individual providing the optional activity or excursion will be those of the country where the optional activity or excursion takes place. If you wish to book any optional activity or excursion You must do so subject to the operator’s terms and conditions. Your contract will be with the operator of the activity or excursion and will be governed by local law. Topdeck acts only as their agent. Topdeck’s Trip Leader will have further details and additional information can be provided on request.

Topdeck accepts no liability for any act or omission of any operator, its employees, agents or subcontractors.

DATA PROTECTION 26. Topdeck has measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by it. However, in order to make your booking and ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly, we need to use the information You provide and pass it on to the trip operator or other relevant suppliers who are responsible for your travel arrangements.

In making this booking, your consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons is deemed to be given unless You object and advise Topdeck of your objection at the time of booking.

The information may also be provided to public authorities such as Customs or Immigration if required by them, or as required by law.

This consent applies to any sensitive information that You give to us such as details of any disabilities or dietary/religious requirements.

SMOKING 27. Topdeck operates a non-smoking policy on our coaches (although we make frequent stops for breaks), and in all of our accommodation, including tented accommodation.

LUGGAGE 28. There are strict weight limits for coaches when fully loaded.

Therefore You are only entitled to have one piece of main luggage of standard size (see the pre-departure information or our website for size limits), and not weighing more than 15kg for outback trips and 20kg for East-coast & NZ trips. In addition You may bring a daypack.

GENERAL 29. You understand that future Topdeck advertising and publicity material may include statements made by passengers, or their photographs, and You consent to such use of your comments or photographic/video likeness. 30. No servant, agent, employee or representative of the Company has any right to alter, vary or waive any of these Conditions, nor undertake any activity likely to lead to increased liability whatsoever on behalf of Topdeck unless such be in writing and signed by a duly authorised person.

31. All contracts for bookings made with Topdeck, for trips in this brochure, are governed by Australian law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Australian Courts, should any dispute between us not be otherwise amicably agreed.

32. Interpretation • In these Conditions, any words importing the singular or plural numbers shall include the plural or singular number respectively or words importing a particular gender shall include all genders.

• Notice required to be given in writing in hese Conditions may be given by mail, facsimile transmission or email.

33. Topdeck would like to thank both the Australian and New Zealand Tourist Boards, and our suppliers, crew, passengers and partners for providing selected images used in this brochure.

34. Wi-Fi connectivity. Topdeck will endeavour to deliver Wi-Fi connection as stated on relevant trips to the best of our ability. This service is subject to availability and may not be available on some peak season departures or in the event of technical malfunction.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS 20. Please ensure You carefully read your invoice, tickets and all other documents we send to You as soon as You receive them, and contact your travel agent, or us immediately if any information appears to be incorrect. We will not accept any liability if You fail to notify us of any inaccuracy in any document within 14 days of us sending them to You or your agent. While we will do our best to rectify any

TERMS | 63

WELLINGTON SEVENS 5 - 8 FEB 2015 Join us in Wellington to watch 16 of the world’s top rugby nations clash over the chance to qualify for the sport’s inaugural appearance in the 2016 Rio Olympics. With 35,000 people attending in costume, this is the time and the place to rock that Superman onesie.

INCLUSIONS

+ 2 Day entry pass to the event + 3 Nights accommodation + Welcome dinner + 3 Breakfasts + Awesome Trip Leader

4 DAYS FROM

795

$

PER PERSON

PRE & POST ACCOMMODATION. ARRIVE EARLY. STAY LATE

SYDNEY

CAIRNS

WAKE UP! SYDNEY

AUCKLAND

HIDES HOTEL CAIRNS

PARK REGIS

MULTI SHARE* $

TWIN/DOUBLE* $

SINGLE $

TWIN/DOUBLE* $

SINGLE $

TWIN/DOUBLE* $

SINGLE $

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

48

75

150

65

130

70

140

* MUST BE BOOKED BY 2 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TOGETHER

* MUST BE BOOKED BY 2 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TOGETHER

* MUST BE BOOKED BY 2 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TOGETHER

DARWIN

ALICE SPRINGS

CHRISTCHURCH

IBIS STYLES OASIS

JAILHOUSE

MELALEUCA ON MITCHELL

MULTI SHARE* $

TWIN/DOUBLE* $

SINGLE $

TWIN/DOUBLE* $

SINGLE $

MULTI SHARE* $

TWIN/DOUBLE* $

SINGLE $

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

USD PER PERSON

30

45

* MUST BE BOOKED BY 2 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TOGETHER

64 | STAY & PLAY

90

70

130

* MUST BE BOOKED BY 2 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TOGETHER

40

50

* MUST BE BOOKED BY 2 PEOPLE TRAVELLING TOGETHER

100

HOW

TO READ OUR ITINERARIES

We’ve created this handy reference to help you understand the ins and outs of our itineraries and make an educated decision on the best trip for you. Go forth and explore, grasshopper!

04

05

06

07

Bucket list (inclusions)

01

This is where the fun starts and it’s all included. Compare bucket list items, highlight inclusions for each trip.

02

The itinerary

03

A magical string of words that gives you the lowdown on where we go, what we do and the awesomeness you will encounter on the way. Things not mentioned on the bucket list may not be included, but are too awesome to leave out.

Map

Everyone’s favourite way to visually make sense of the world since 600 B.C. Also super useful to get the lay of the land and understand what regions you will cover on your trip.

Trip code

Use this to book a trip through our website or when you talk to your travel agent. Not useful for Scrabble so don’t even go there.

Travel dates

Planned departure dates for the upcoming travel season. Trips marked with a ‘G’ are guaranteed, which means just that. Check our website regularly for updated departures.

Price

The starting price of your adventure and goal amount for your piggy bank, excluding add-ons and optional activities.

45

26/27 DAY Grand Aussie SYDNEY

DAY 1 Sydney to Crescent Head (via Hunter Valley). Get your (grape) stomp on, enjoy a wine tasting, then settle into our surf camp for live tunes.

(D) DAY 2 Crescent Head to Byron Bay. Wax on for this morning’s surf lesson and work up a surfer’s appetite for our BBQ lunch (great excuse for extra snags).

(B,L) DAY 3 Byron Bay. The ‘Welcome to Byron Bay’ sign says it all: “Cheer up. Slow down. Chill out”. You’ve got 24 hours to find inner peace. (B) DAY 4 Byron Bay to Gold Coast. Take a peek at Natural Bridge before hitting the theme park capital of Australia. (B) DAY 5 Gold Coast to Fraser Island. Say g’day to Brisbane as we make a stop on our pilgrimage to spot the purest breed of dingoes remaining on the planet. (B,D) DAY 6 Fraser Island. Rainforests sprouting from sand. A decaying shipwreck. Sharks riding waves.

Fraser is more rugged than Russell Crowe and you’ll see it all on our 4WD tour. (B,L) DAY 7 Fraser Island to Kroombit Park. If you haven’t spotted a kangaroo yet, now’s your chance as we saddle up for a stay at a working cattle station.

(B,D) DAY 8 Kroombit Park to Emu Park. Live the life of a stockman and throw your leg over a horse or quad bike, or test out your trap shooting skills. (B,L,D) DAY 9 Emu Park to the Whitsundays (Sailing). Kick back and watch the Milky Way, straight flowin’ on a boat on the deep blue sea. You have arrived. (B,D) DAY 10 Long Island Resort (Whitehaven Beach).

Pop on your captain’s hat, like a boss. Anchor off Whitehaven, snorkel Blue Pearl Bay... just get ‘er to Long Island by sundown. (B,L,D) DAY 11 Long Island Resort*. You + one full day on a tropical island = shibby! Beach it. Water sport it. Or kick it in a hammock, cocktail in hand. (B) DAY 12 The Whitsundays to Cairns. Hop aboard our land yacht – Cairns and an obscene amount of coconut trees await. Head to the night markets… or straight to the Woolshed. (B) DAY 13, 14 & 15 Cairns. Well, hellooo three days in Cairns! Head straight to the Great Barrier Reef – do not pass Go – on a day trip to snorkel or dive with your Nemo bucket list. Gorge yourself on adventure with options of jungle surfing, skydiving, bungee, hot air ballooning, horse riding, white-water rafting.

Cairns is basically a mini tropical Vegas, but with only one casino. (Bx3, Dx1)

DARWIN

26

BREAKFASTS

6

LUNCHES

12

On the bucket list (included) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Wine tasting in the stunning Hunter Valley Surf lesson at Topdeck’s surf retreat Rainforest walk in Springbrook NP Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience Authentic ‘Goat Rodeo’ at Kroombit Park Outback Cattle Station Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands Visit stunning Whitehaven Beach 2 nights at the tropical Long Island Resort Sunset & sunrise over Uluru “Valley of the Winds” walk at Kata Tjuta Guided hike of Kings Canyon Canoe in the Katherine Gorge East Alligator River cruise in Kakadu Aboriginal guide and entry into Arnhemland Visit Aboriginal rock art sites in Kakadu NP Swim in the fresh waters of Litchfield NP

More inclusions + 26 breakfasts (B), 6 lunches (L), 12 dinners (D) + 24 nights in hotels, lodges & cabins, 1 night in a swag, 1 night live-aboard sailing + Entrance fees to national parks + Modern air-conditioned vehicles + Awesome Driver/Guide DAY 21 Alice Springs. A lazy day by the pool is in order. Bored? High-five Chris ‘Brolga’ Barnes aka Kangaroo Dundee or learn Aboriginal bush remedies in the Desert Park Gardens. (B) DAY 22 Alice Springs to Tennant Creek. Australia loves big things – Big Banana, Big Pineapple, Big Cow. Some of the granite boulders of Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) are up to 7m in diameter. The cow can bring it. (B,D) DAY 23 Tennant Creek to Katherine. You’re in the real Never Never now. Still, you’ll be living the highlife with a pub lunch and thermal springs soak. (B,D) DAY 24 Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls. Katherine is HUGE. From east to west it touches the Queensland and West Australian borders. Today you get to experience the VIP section. (B)

DAY 17 Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Did you know Uluru is actually a rusty 600-million-year old hunk o’ earth that would be grey if not for its iron content? At sunset it looks all kinds of awesome.

(B,D)

DAY 27 Kakadu to Darwin (Litchfield National Park). Giant mounds built by climate-controlling termites (aligned north to south to keep ‘em cool) and waterfalls await at our last stop at Litchfield National Park. (B,L)

DAY 20 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs. Discover 50 shades of red sandstone as we flirt with the edge of Kings Canyon and reach the Garden of Eden. (B,L)

04

NO. OF NIGHTS STAY DAY STOP

This trip is made up of the 14 Day Island Suntanner and 11 Day Rock ‘N’ Top trips. See p.37 and p.51 for more details.

Ex. Sydney AAGASD Start 7.30am Wake Up! Sydney Finish 6.00pm Mitchell Street Darwin Ex. Darwin AAGADS Start 7.00am Melaleuea on Mitchell Darwin Finish 6.00pm Wake Up! Sydney

USD

TRIP CODE: AAGASD/AAGADS Ex. Sydney AAGASD 27 DAYS Start Finish 2015 10 Jan 05 Feb 17 Jan 12 Feb 07 Feb 05 Mar 07 Mar 02 Apr 04 Apr 30 Apr 02 May 28 May 30 May 25 Jun 27 Jun 23 Jul 04 Jul 30 Jul 25 Jul 20 Aug 22 Aug 17 Sep 19 Sep 15 Oct 26 Sep 22 Oct 17 Oct 12 Nov 14 Nov 10 Dec 12 Dec 07 Jan 2016 02 Jan 28 Jan 09 Jan 04 Feb 06 Feb 03 Mar 05 Mar 31 Mar

DAY 25 Katherine to Kakadu National Park. Get Territory tough with a hike up Gunlom Falls with views over this Great Southern Land, then fly over the monolithic Arnhem Land Escarpment. (B,D)

DAY 16 Cairns to Alice Springs. Take to the skies and meet up with your NT crew in Alice Springs. (B)

DAY 19 Uluru To Kings Canyon. The Pitjantjatjara name Kata-Tjuta means ‘many heads’... you’ll see why on today’s hike. Sleep under a sky that shines bright like a diamond. (B,D)

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE CITY SYDNEY OR DARWIN

Dates & Prices 2015-16

DAY 26 Kakadu National Park. Visit the open-air Australian Louvre of Nourlangie Rock – home to famous Indigenous art works. (No snooty art critic act required here.) Then, croc spotting and a lesson on 20,000 years of culture. (B)

DAY 18 Uluru, Kata-Tjuta National Park (The Olgas). Salute the sun at Uluru, release your inner artist with a dot painting class then test your star-trail photography skills. (B)

DINNERS

G G G G G G G G G G G

G G G

Ex. Darwin AAGADS 26 DAYS Start Finish 2015 12 Jan 06 Feb 09 Feb 06 Mar 09 Mar 03 Apr 06 Apr 01 May 04 May 29 May 01 Jun 26 Jun 29 Jun 24 Jul 27 Jul 21 Aug 03 Aug 28 Aug 24 Aug 18 Sep 21 Sep 16 Oct 19 Oct 13 Nov 26 Oct 20 Nov 16 Nov 11 Dec 04 Dec 29 Dec 14 Dec 08 Jan 2016 11 Jan 05 Feb 01 Feb 26 Feb 08 Feb 04 Mar 07 Mar 01 Apr

TRIP PRICE OF $4280

TRIP PRICE OF $4315

TRIP PRICE OF $4695

TRIP PRICE OF $4765

TRIP PRICE OF $4795

TRIP PRICE OF $4835

05

G

G G,C G,CA G G,C CA G,C G,CA G,C CA G,CA

06

G,C G,C C G,CA G

G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE C = THIS TRIP CAN CONTINUE TO CHRISTCHURCH INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN EXPLORER A = THIS TRIP CONTINUES TO AUCKLAND (CONTACT US FOR PRICES)

26 DAYS FROM

4280

07

$

PER PERSON

The Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin, Katherine and Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks) have an annual wet season that typically operates between November and April. During the wet season it is necessary to change our dry season itinerary and substitute some attractions, particularly in Kakadu National Park. Please refer to our website www.topdeck.travel for our wet season itinerary.

PLEASE NOTE - FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE

St

03

Where you start, finish and top line inclusions.

Australia

02

The basics

$1 artin 65 g f /d rom ay

01

HOW TO READ OUR ITINERARIES | 65

MAPS X DAY TRIP NAME TRIP CODE

PAGE

NEW ZEALAND

01

Trip name & duration

02

Trip code & page number

COUNTRY: NZ

16

17 DAY Grand Kiwi ANGKBC/ANGKCB

P.19

HOTELS, B&B & LODGES

5-17 DAYS

3–4 SHARE

5 DAY Sweet As North ANGKRW/ANGKWR

P.27

AUSTRALIA

COUNTRY: AUS

28

TRIP LENGTH

22 DAY Spirit of the Pacific P.31

AASPSC/AASPCC

HOTELS & LODGES

3-28 DAYS

3–4 SHARE

11 DAY Reef Suntanner AAISGC/AAISCG

10 DAY Tropical Adventure P.39

11 DAY Rock 'N' Top AARTKD/AARTDK

TRIP LENGTH

AAISBC/AAISCB

6 DAY Tropical Suntanner P.40

6 DAY Didgeridoo Dreams P.51

AARTUD/AARTDU

AAISWC/AAISCW

5 DAY Ultimate Surfari P.41

4 DAY Rock 'N' Canyon P.52

AARCUU

AAISSB/AAISBS

P.41

8 DAY Outback Gem P.53

AAOGAU/AAOGUA

P.56

15 DAY Kiwi Encounter ANGKAC/ANGKCA

10 DAY Pure Adrenalin P.21

ANGKWC/ANGKCW

7 DAY Southern Explorer P.24

P.25

14 DAY Island Suntanner

28 DAY Ultimate Aussie Adventure P.33

AAUASM/AAUAMS

27 DAY Grand Aussie

AAISSC/AAISCS

ANGKAW/ANGKWA

P.26

12 DAY East Coast Cruisin' P.37

AAISSQ/AAISQS

P.38

20 DAY Beach & Bush P.45

AAGASD/AAGADS

3 DAY Southern Cross AAMRMA/AAMRAM

ANGKCO

7 DAY Northen Explorer

12 DAY Down South & Outback P.57

AAMRMU/AAMRUM

P.58

P.47

AAGASU/AAGAUS

15 DAY Opals & Outback AAOOAD/AAOODA

19 DAY Outback Adventure P.59

AAMRMD/AAMRDM

P.61

Europe

s l a v i t s e F USA & Canada

Europe Winter

Egypt

USD

& Events

n Plus Jorda & Morocco

Exclusive Agent:

Africa

Topdeck North America Reservations National Toll Free:

Ph 1 800 607 1399 www.topdeck.travel res@topdecktravel.co.uk 119 Spadina Ave, PO Box 3 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2T2

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